Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

200. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 150 of 20 May 2025, how he intends to “reduce the impact of known high risk animals in spreading bTB”; if he is referring to badgers in this sentence; to outline those measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36434/25]

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

Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate.

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 22nd June 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.43 % with over 43,455 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families both financially and emotionally throughout rural Ireland. This cannot be allowed to continue. It is important that all sources of infection are addressed to help eradicate this disease - cattle to cattle, residual infection and wildlife, including badgers.

Following extensive discussions at the TB Forum, I met TB stakeholders on 8 May and farming organisations on 22 May with a view to agreeing an action plan for bovine TB on the most effective ways to mitigate the impact of bTB on farm families and to reduce herd incidence and spread of the disease. It was clear at these meetings that there is an appetite for change to the bTB programme.

At these meetings I presented 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

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

201. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to his statement on 24 June 2025 that “Heydon gets approval from Cabinet to address current high levels of bovine TB”, to confirm the measures that were approved by Cabinet; when those proposals will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36435/25]

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

Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate.

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 22nd June 2025, over a 12 month period we had a herd incidence of 6.43 % with over 43,455 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families both financially and emotionally throughout rural Ireland. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Following extensive discussions at the TB Forum, I met TB stakeholders on 8 May and farming organisations on 22 May with a view to agreeing an action plan for bovine TB on the most effective ways to mitigate the impact of bTB on farm families and to reduce herd incidence and spread of the disease. It was clear at these meetings that there is an appetite for change to the bTB programme.

At these meetings I presented 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