Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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891. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herds that are currently restricted with TB, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6636/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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892. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TB reactors, per county, in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6637/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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893. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the RPT per county in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6638/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 891 to 893, inclusive, together.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate.

As of the 5th February 2023, on a 12-month rolling basis, herd incidence has reduced to 4.28%, a slight decline compared to 4.31% at same time last year. In the past 12 months 4,475 TB Herds were restricted, compared to 4,585 in the previous 12-month period, a decrease of 110 TB restricted herds.

The attached file shows the different figures per county as requested. The figures in respect of the year 2022 are provisional, as final figures have not been completed.

As the spread of this disease is multifactorial, it is being fought on many fronts. The TB programme in each county focuses on factors including wildlife, residual or introduced infection, how disease is distributed in the area, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and swift isolation and removal of reactors.

Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of every outbreak involving two or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and measures necessary to help reduce the risk of recurrence. Emphasis is placed on the biosecurity measures a herdowner can take to reduce risks on their farm, and when buying in animals.

Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme operates in line with best national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. This research has found that the principal causes of TB introduction and spread include:

- movement of cattle with undetected infection.

- residual infection in cattle previously exposed to TB.

- spread across farm boundaries.

- indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches, and/or

- spread from infected badgers to cattle.

This research has recently been reviewed in its entirety for the Bovine TB Stakeholder Forum by its Scientific Working Group, which comprises a panel of internationally recognised experts in TB research.

The details of the new TB Strategy along with the results of the review are available on www.bovinetb.ie.