Animal Diseases

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Ceisteanna (900)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

900. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which animal diseases such as bovine tuberculosis continue to be eliminated in a meaningful way; the extent to which any breakdowns have occurred by region; the efforts being made to identify the causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39311/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a serious disease of cattle which causes significant hardship for farmers and farming families, and I am fully committed to the objectives of the Bovine TB Eradication Strategy, which aims to reduce and ultimately eradicate this disease in Ireland.

While the incidence of bTB is now low relative to historical levels, the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers gradually increased between 2016 and the end of 2020. There were encouraging signs in 2021, as bTB levels were lower than in 2020, with fewer reactors and a lower herd incidence. Herd incidence at end of 2021 was 4.34% compared to 4.38% at end of 2020.

The table below details the number of herds experiencing a new restriction due to bTB, since 1st January each year, by county over the past 5 years to date, and the number of reactors related to these restrictions .

The reasons for increase in disease over the last number of years often relate to a combination of national and local factors.

The expansion of the dairy herd since 2015 has had an impact on bTB levels since dairy herds, larger herds, fragmented farms, and herds that buy in cattle are all more at risk of bTB breakdown. Wildlife can also be a factor.

The causes of bTB outbreaks are complex, and can vary from area to area, requiring a range of actions to address the problem. My Department's policy Divisions are supported by the 16 Regional Veterinary Offices throughout the country, each of which prioritises bTB management.

The bTB 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 swift isolation and removal of reactors. Each bTB 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 measures necessary to help reduce 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 an area that show a significant increase in bTB levels, the Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) implements a High Impact bTB Control Plan and works with farmers and other stakeholders to reduce levels of bTB in those areas. These control plans involve increased levels of testing and other control measures. Intensified co-operation and collaboration with local famers and other stakeholders in these areas helps to reduce the level of disease.

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 bTB restriction.

Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme operates in line with best national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of bTB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. This research has found that the principle causes of bTB introduction and spread include:

movement of cattle with undetected infection;

residual infection in cattle previously exposed to bTB, but not identified at time of test;

spread across farm boundaries;

indirect spread through other biosecurity breaches, and/or

spread from infected badgers to cattle.

This research has recently been reviewed in its entirety for the Bovine TB Stakeholder Forum by its Scientific Working Group, which comprises a panel of internationally recognised experts in bTB research.

The details of the new TB Strategy along with the results of the review are available on www.bovinetb.ie.

County	New Herd Restrictions 2017	Reactor numbers 2017	New Herd Restrictions 2018	Reactor numbers 2018	New Herd Restrictions 2019	Reactor numbers 2019	New Herd Restrictions 2020	Reactor numbers 2020	New Herd Restrictions 2021	Reactor numbers 2021	New Herd Restrictions 2022 to date	Reactor numbers 2022 to date
Carlow	46	103	35	105	37	77	44	145	39	81	21	29
Cavan	263	1,408	201	893	216	941	261	1174	243	851	76	168
Clare	204	1,207	225	1265	273	1,190	264	1569	172	631	78	254
Cork North	270	1,775	320	2086	342	1,993	435	2999	475	3003	167	1018
Cork South	246	809	161	582	181	898	228	952	345	1820	111	636
Donegal	104	184	87	113	117	219	87	263	142	371	45	92
Dublin	21	86	30	169	18	137	26	158	17	186	17	162
Galway	284	975	241	838	299	1,181	349	1190	304	1070	126	411
Kerry	180	1,173	172	1069	184	832	165	1201	208	1282	116	529
Kildare	68	146	63	167	55	84	74	177	89	245	47	117
Kilkenny	99	421	88	352	131	507	111	368	124	551	69	383
Laois	93	667	100	505	114	446	146	800	136	541	65	144
Leitrim	83	309	58	185	73	258	60	164	64	276	37	93
Limerick	121	533	94	364	105	357	144	748	156	923	92	489
Longford	52	73	46	207	51	116	77	281	93	302	47	108
Louth	46	181	56	101	64	194	85	286	38	173	24	106
Mayo	197	507	193	501	141	379	223	717	158	456	89	258
Meath	206	654	193	754	199	555	270	1001	255	881	113	586
Monaghan	207	1,089	371	1677	292	1,336	303	1154	223	758	125	480
Offaly	114	346	122	360	154	598	165	738	187	695	89	321
Roscommon	146	422	144	336	163	464	156	354	150	385	53	85
Sligo	105	290	134	482	97	232	133	404	119	282	50	149
Tipperary North	146	842	165	1296	142	851	222	1370	190	1092	86	398
Tipperary South	111	361	96	399	95	377	160	1088	148	875	59	496
Waterford	36	149	59	343	51	148	56	196	103	616	34	284
Westmeath	175	919	147	666	157	626	203	1192	203	683	76	433
Wexford	138	907	129	709	147	743	137	701	122	383	58	386
Wicklow East	63	421	98	596	100	939	96	648	82	1099	50	446
Wicklow West	61	309	46	371	62	380	73	576	90	420	32	374
Total	3,885	17,266	3,874	17,491	4,060	17,058	4,753	22,614	4,675	20,931	2,052	9,435