Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
1192. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TB tests carried out from 2016 to date; the positivity rate; the total cost of same to his Department; the EU contribution to same; the Exchequer contribution by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52432/21]
View answer1197. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of increased funding in respect of TB in 2022; the way the funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52437/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1192 and 1197 together.
Following many successful years of reducing bovine TB levels to the benefit of Irish Farmers, there is a concerning incremental increase in the disease since 2016. Attachment 1 shows (1) the number of TB tests carried out on animals from 2016 to date in 2021 and (2) Herd incidence which is the positivity rate of herds tested for the same period. There are positive indications of progress though; the TB situation for 2021 is likely to represent an improvement compared to 2020.
Attachment 2 shows the expenditure breakdown of the bovine TB programme from 2016 to 2020 - including cost of tests, EU contribution and Exchequer contribution. These figures and the methodology underpinning them were recently published in a cost benefit analysis report completed by Grant Thornton. Final figures for 2021 will be published at the end of the year but year to date figures indicate spending has increased by 19% over the same period last year. As part of my on-going commitment to eradicating this disease, I have sanctioned an additional €1m in funding, for 2022, for the wildlife programme which is an integral element of the overall programme.
While the farmer contribution to the programme is significant at an estimated €35 million, this has remained broadly stable since 2017. Conversely, the contribution from the Irish taxpayer increased by over €11 million from €46 million to €57 million between 2018 and 2020. This rate of increase is not sustainable. There will be a decrease in EU funding towards the programme in 2022 and again in subsequent years and there is a strong possibility that EU will cease funding entirely.
I am acutely aware of the financial and emotional burden associated with a TB breakdown and we must do everything we can, working together as a sector, to tackle this problem. Earlier this year, I launched a new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021- 2030. The implementation of this strategy is overseen by the established TB Stakeholder Forum along with support from three working groups on science, implementation, and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed.
I would like to direct you to www.bovinetb.ie where both the Grant Thornton Cost Benefit analysis and the TB Strategy are published.
