Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the incidence of TB has increased since the introduction of the TB eradication programme in 1962; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64178/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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302. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the incidences of TB that have been identified in Ireland between 2010 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64179/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of herds that have been affected by TB in Ireland annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64180/25]

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle diagnosed with signs of TB for each year from 2010 to November 2025, in tabular form; the percentage of Irish cattle diagnosed with TB for each year from 2010 to November 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64181/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301, 302, 303 and 304 together.

Bovine TB (bTB) is a difficult disease to control and eradicate but it can and has been done in other countries, I am very aware of the devastating impact bTB has on farmers and their families.

The TB eradication programme was launched in Ireland in 1954, in 1962 there were over 169,000 reactors which fell to its lowest level in 2015 with over 15,000 reactors. However since 2015 disease levels have increased. As at 9 November 2025, over a 12 month period herd incidence has fallen below 6% having started to reduce in recent months.

Following extensive engagement with stakeholders and farming organisations to agree measures to tackle the current disease levels, I published the "Bovine TB Action Plan Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland” on 9 September.

I secured an increased budget for the bTB programme in Budget 2026 totalling €157 million. This will allow the revamped programme to focus on tackling disease levels through the implementation of the measures laid out in the new bTB Action Plan.

The table attached details Bovine TB statistics from 2010 to 9 November 2025.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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305. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total expenditure for eradicating TB on an annual basis from 2010 to November 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64182/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional trauma associated with a TB breakdown.

It causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families, and I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy which aims to reduce and ultimately eradicate this disease in Ireland.

I published the “Bovine TB Action Plan, Addressing Bovine TB in Ireland” on 9 September 2025. The Action Plan follows extensive discussions with stakeholders and support from my Cabinet colleagues to address the current high levels of Bovine TB (bTB). The Action Plan is based on scientific research and veterinary expertise. There are 5 measures which are underpinned by 30 actions:

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.

The costs of the bTB programme have increased significantly in recent years. The most effective way to reduce the cost of the bTB programme is through reducing disease levels.

The cost’s outlined below include, compensation to farmers, the wildlife programme, TB testing and supplies, and other elements of the bTB programme are based on figures extracted from my Department's Accounts system (SAP).

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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306. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of compensation paid to Irish farmers annually for cattle diagnosed with TB from 2010 to November 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64183/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s TB Eradication Programme has a comprehensive compensation regime in place for herd-owners who are affected by bovine TB.

The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to Herd-owners whose herds are affected by a bovine TB breakdown in their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value of an animal as if they were not affected by disease, subject to ceilings.

The Income Supplement Scheme is a targeted scheme which assists farmers who lose 9.5% or more of their herd to disease due to a single TB breakdown. Income supplement is only payable in cases where the 9.5% threshold is met in one continuous restriction period and where Depopulation is not deemed an appropriate measure.

The Hardship Grant is a targeted scheme aimed at assisting eligible herd-owners who retain and feed animals during prolonged periods of restriction as a result of a TB breakdown. The scheme runs each year for herds restricted between November 1st and April 30th.

Depopulation Grant is paid for each animal removed in the depopulation measure and for those herds that are partial or fully depopulated on foot of a veterinary decision made on analysis of the overall TB disease situation within a herd.

In the table below, please find total expenditure per year in respect of all compensation measures, based on my Departments SAP Accounts system and the Animal Health Computer System.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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307. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid to vets annually by his Department through the TB eradication programmes from 2010 to November 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64184/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The table below shows the amount in testing fees paid to veterinary practitioners annually by my Department through the TB eradication programmes from 2010 to November 2025. The table shows an increase in expenditure since 2022 due to an increase in disease levels.