TB forecasted to cost €130m in 2025
This proposed figure was presented at the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food meeting to discuss the eradication of TB. With the current disease levels, it was also estimated that the cost of the eradication programme could reach €170m in 2026.
The meeting heard questions posed from senators and TDs to Conor O'Mahony from the Department of Agriculture, Dr Damien Barrett, Chief Superintending Veterinary Officer of the Department of Agriculture, and Michael Cronin, Chairman of the TB 2030 Stakeholder Forum.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach, Deputy Aindrias Moynihan, said: 'Bovine TB continues to impact herds throughout Ireland. Since reaching a historical low in 2016, when herd incidence in this country fell to 3.27%, we have seen bovine TB levels increase year on year.'
In his opening address, Conor O'Mahony presented the most recent TB figures. As of June 8, 6,500 herds have experienced a TB breakdown in the last 12 months. Within the same period, just under 43,000 reactors have been disclosed, a 35% increase on the figure recorded in the same period the previous year, which was just under 32,000 reactors.
Mr O'Mahony also revealed that 10m individual animal tests were carried out in the 12 months up to June 8, 2025, an increase on the 9m individual tests carried out in the previous 12-month period.
In Michael Cronin's opening address to the meeting, he highlighted that over 41,600 reactors were disclosed in 2024, which was a 44% increase in reactor numbers in 2023.
Commenting on the addresses, Cathaoirleach Moynihan said: 'They're dramatic figures and it is a highly emotive issue.'
Cathaoirleach Moynihan also posed the issue regarding the original target of TB eradication by 2030. Mr O'Mahony's response to the original target was: 'I don't think we can confidently say we are going to eradicate TB by 2030 given where our current disease levels are.'
Questions were posed at the meeting regarding the new proposals and restrictions put forward at the most recent TB Stakeholder forum, and when they would be implemented. Currently, no timelines can be proposed by the Department as they are still waiting on the proposed measures to be fully agreed on by stakeholders and the Minister of Agriculture, Martin Heydon, but once finalised will be implemented as soon as possible.
It was revealed later in the meeting by Dr Barrett that the proposal of historic TB results of herds being publicly available for informed purchases of animals is one of the proposals, in particular, that is being seriously considered for implementation.
Of particular interest to TDs and senators in attendance was the wildlife programme. Last year, €9m was spent on the programme; this figure excluded any money spent on the research and monitoring of TB in deer herds, as that is not included in the TB budget.
Dr Barrett informed the joint committee that approximately 14,000 badgers were captured and assessed from 2023 to 2024. Just over 7,000 badgers were culled from this figure as a result of testing positive for TB or being captured within a 'cull' zone; the remainder were vaccinated.
It was revealed in the meeting that no follow-up assessments on an individual level are currently conducted on vaccinated badgers, with the department unable to provide the assembled committee with guaranteed figures of efficacy and effectiveness of the vaccine. Dr Barrett could only provide reassurance that studies on the vaccination were observed to be effective on badger populations.
Dr Barrett also revealed that the strategy for badger vaccination is set to change from a blanket vaccination practice to a vaccination and removal strategy. This strategy change, Dr Barrett explained, will supersede any current calls for examining badgers already vaccinated against TB.
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