Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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708. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is an undue delay dealing with reactor animals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65432/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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One of the primary disease mitigation measures of the bovine TB eradication programme is the routine surveillance of all bovines for the presence of bovine TB through the use of the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test, more commonly known as the 'skin test' and, if applicable, the removal of “reactor” animals identified in herds. When an animal is tested for bovine tuberculosis the veterinary practitioner makes two visits on separate days to complete the testing cycle.

My Department is notified of test results by the Private Veterinary Practitioner through the Animal Health Computer System. Once the testing cycle is complete and eligible reactors have been identified in a herd, the On Farm Market Valuation (OFMV) process begins.

From 1st of January to 31st October 2025, my Department removed 32,524 animals for slaughter as part of the OFMV Scheme. My Department has managed to reduce the removal time by half a day when compared to this period in 2024. The national average removal time from test to slaughter for this time period in 2025 averaged at 17.6 days, which has reduced from 18.2 days average for the same period in 2024.

There are circumstances outside of my Department's control where the removal of reactor animals must be delayed, such as appeal cases where either party seeks a second live valuation of the affected animals before their removal, medicated animals who are observing the appropriate withdrawal period, inconclusive animals who may be required to undergo further Gamma Interferon (GIF) blood testing, and those reactor animals who are 90%+ of gestation and on animal health and welfare grounds, cannot be moved until they have calved on farm. My Department works closely with stakeholders to identify if, and where efficiencies can be made. All of these circumstances are also accounted for in average timeframe outlined above.