Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of the number of identified outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis that his officials have worked on in the State and in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years to date; and the number of animals destroyed over this time period as a result of bovine TB. [36897/22]
View answerAs the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine I am responsible for the TB Eradication Programme within the Republic of Ireland. The TB Eradication Programme in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) under the United Kingdom government.
The table below details the number of herds experiencing a new restriction due to bovine TB, since 1st January each year, by county over the past 10 years to date, and the number of reactors related to these restrictions within this jurisdiction.
This disease causes considerable hardship for farmers and farming families, and my Department, working together with stakeholders and engaging with farmers, are committed to eradicating this disease.
The causes of TB outbreaks are complex, and can vary from area to area, requiring a range of actions to address the problem. The TB programme in each county focuses on factors including wildlife, how disease is distributed in the area, contiguous programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and frequency and isolation of reactors. Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of every outbreak involving two or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and necessary measures to assist in reducing the risk of recurrence. Emphasis is placed on biosecurity measures a farmer can take to reduce risks on his or her farm, and when buying in animals.
In 2021, I launched a new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030. Implementation is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum with support from three working groups on science, implementation and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. We now have the building blocks in place to lower disease incidence and reduce the challenges associated with a TB restriction. Details of the new TB Strategy are available on www.bovinetb.ie.
