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Tuberculosis Eradication Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Ceisteanna (1024)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

1024. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on the testing for and the eradication of TB in agriculture for each of the past ten years; the number of animals that have been killed as a result of TB for each of the past ten years; the number of these animals that were subsequently found to have TB or lesions for each of the past ten years; the reason it has not been sought to completely eradicate TB; and the estimated cost on farmers of the policy of testing and eradication of TB in each year. [8653/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

While 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 below shows (i) the testing costs, (ii) the estimated overall costs and (iii) the number of animals that have been removed as reactors under the TB Programme from 2010 to 2020. On average 30% of skin test reactors will have visible lesions at post-mortem inspection. This does not mean that most of animals slaughtered do not have TB, it means that the disease has not progressed to the point where lesions are visible at post mortem.

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