John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1753. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine as bovine tuberculosis increased in Ireland in 2024, with the TB incidence increasing to 6% of herds and TB having a devastating financial and emotional impact at farm level, if he has considered the IFA's comprehensive proposal, setting out a detailed plan to tackle the disease; if he is willing to meet the IFA on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45662/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate.  I am very aware of the effect this disease is having on farmers and their families, both financially and emotionally, throughout rural Ireland. In recent years, bovine TB (bTB) levels have continued to deteriorate despite everyone's efforts. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024. As of 17th August 2025, over a 12-month period, herd incidence was 6.19%, with over 41,500 reactors. 

At the TB Forum on 26th March, all stakeholders were provided an opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme to address the increase in disease incidence over the last number of years.  Following this meeting the Chair of the Forum wrote to me outlining discussions at the meeting.  I met TB stakeholders on 8th May to address the deteriorating bTB disease levels and to discuss measures to reduce herd incidence and spread of the disease. I held a further meeting on 22nd May with farming organisations to discuss a reset of the TB programme and agree necessary measures to tackle the current disease situation.

At these meetings I presented five key measures 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 bTB 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

I will ensure that any measures adopted are based on the best scientific and veterinary advice. I intend to finalise the details of this plan and publish this shortly.

I believe that strong leadership by all involved in the bTB programme is required, and that by working together we can take the necessary measures to protect farmers’ livelihoods from bTB. These measures have been formulated to take the most effective yet practical measures to control and reduce bovine TB, and to allow us, in time, to refocus on the eradication of this disease.