Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context

130. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the engagements he has had with farming organisations in relation to his Department's proposed measures to tackle bovine TB. [25485/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The implementation of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 is overseen by the Bovine TB (bTB) Stakeholders Forum along with support from three working groups – a Scientific Group, an Implementation Working Group and a Finance Group to ensure all aspects of the Strategy are addressed.

The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum and its working groups comprise of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers, farming organisations and my Department.

While significant progress has been made in some areas of the TB programme, there are other areas where further progress needs to be made.

At the February meeting of the TB Forum it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels.

At the TB Forum on 26th March all stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme to address the recent increase in disease incidence over the last number of years.

Following this meeting the Chair of the Forum wrote to me in early April outlining discussions at the meeting.

On 8th May 2025, I held a TB Summit with key stakeholders where discussions were held on the most effective ways to mitigate the impact of bTB on farm families and to reduce herd incidence and spread of the disease.

At this meeting I presented 30 actions underpinned by 5 key pillars to address the current rates of bTB:

1.Support herds free of bTB to remain free

2.Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB

3.Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a TB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown

4.Help farmers improve all areas of on farm biosecurity

5.Reduce the impact of known high risk animals in spreading bTB

The engagement I had on this and all proposed actions with stakeholders will feed into the draft proposals to help contribute to a more effective programme that protects farmers and their families from this disease.

I will shortly be meeting with farm organisations again to discuss updated proposals on foot of our discussions at the summit.

I hope to achieve a broad consensus to these proposals but there is an urgency here and I intend to move quickly to refine the programme and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to reduce the impact of this disease on farmers and their families.

I will ensure that any measures adopted are based on the best scientific and veterinary advice. Through strong leadership by all involved in the programme and by working together we can take the necessary measures to protect farmers livelihoods from bTB.

Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

131. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the efforts to help address the increase in the incidence of TB on Irish farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25207/25]

Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

143. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the implementation of an updated TB eradication plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25208/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 143 together.

The Programme for Government commits to review and update the National TB 2030 Eradication Strategy.

This is necessary due to the deteriorating disease levels in recent years which means even more farm families are facing the emotional and financial pressure of a TB breakdown.

Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, resulting in a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. As of 11th May 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.3% with over 42,200 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families both financially and emotionally throughout rural Ireland.

At the February meeting of the TB Forum it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels.

At the TB Forum on 26th March all stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme to address the recent increase in disease incidence over the last number of years.

Following this meeting the Chair of the Forum wrote to me in early April outlining discussions at the meeting.

On 8th May 2025, I held a TB Summit to address the deteriorating TB disease levels with key stakeholders where discussions were held on the most effective ways to mitigate the impact of bTB on farm families and to reduce herd incidence and spread of the disease.

At this meeting I presented 30 actions underpinned by 5 key pillars to address the current rates of bTB:

1. Support herds free of bTB to remain free
2. Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB
3. Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a TB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown
4. Help farmers improve all areas of on farm biosecurity
5. Reduce the impact of known high risk animals in spreading bTB