Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which animal diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis, continue to be eliminated in a meaningful way; the extent to which any breakdowns have occurred by region; the efforts being made to identify the causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18726/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am committed to making real progress in eradicating TB because I am acutely aware of the emotional and financial trauma associated with a TB breakdown for farmers.

As of 21st April 2024, on a 12-month rolling basis herd incidence is 5.06% compared to 4.45% at the same time in 2023. In the past 12 months 5,180 TB Herds were restricted, compared to 4,605 in the previous 12-month period. An increase of 575 TB Herds restricted (12.48%).

The attached file shows our TB Statistical figures for the year 2023, the number of herds restricted, the herd incidence and the number of reactors by county. It also shows total comparison for the previous five years.

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, how disease is spread in the area, contiguous programmes, 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 farmer can take to reduce risks on their farm, and when buying in animals.

Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme is guided by 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 infected cattle with undetected infection.
• residual infection in cattle previously exposed to TB.
• spread across farm boundaries from infected cattle to uninfected cattle.
• indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches, and/or
• spread from infected badgers to uninfected cattle.

Whilst significant progress has been made some areas of the TB programme, there are other areas, particularly in the context of cattle to cattle spread, where similar progress has not been made due to lack of stakeholder engagement. The impact of cattle to cattle transmission and the steps necessary to reduce this still remain to be addressed and until that is done current levels of TB in the national herd will not be reduced.

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