Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
1039. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure on the TB eradication programme in each of the years 2010 to 2020; the amount of EU funding received in relation to same for each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13457/21]
View answerWhile TB disease is low relative to historical levels, the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers have been gradually increasing since 2016. The pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020.
My Department is engaged with all stakeholders through the TB Forum to ensure all aspects of the recently launched new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 are addressed to move toward the eradication of the disease. This new TB Strategy and further information is available on www.bovinetb.ie.
The table attached shows the estimated overall costs of the programme from 2010 to 2020. EU funding has gradually decreased from a high of €12m in 2014. This is due to two factors, that TB is no longer seen as high priority by the EU in terms of co-funding and also because of the deteriorating disease situation here and perceived lack of progress in eliminating it. The EU commitment to funding is expected to reduce even further in the coming years. The farmer contribution is estimated as it includes a cost for testing which is paid directly by farmers to testing veterinary practitioners.
