Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
889. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the availability of grants for farmers to provide a herd wide tuberculosis test following positive tests in recent years which would allow trace whether the source is internal or external to the herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6281/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Bovine TB Eradication Programme, every herd in the country must undergo at least one herd test annually. All eligible cattle on the holding, regardless of ownership, must be presented for testing.
Primary responsibility for arranging and paying for this annual test rests with the farmer. Where TB is found in a herd, a suite of supplementary testing is initiated by my Department which may include blood testing. For the most part, all supplementary testing is paid for by my Department and allied with this, an epidemiological assessment or investigation is carried out to determine the source of the infection.
