Bovine tuberculosis (TB) levels in north Kerry and west Limerick are running above the national average, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Niall Collins has said. He described the local increase as a significant concern and said the department is monitoring the situation closely.
Speaking at the Listowel Food Fair Farming Seminar on Monday, November 9, Collins said he was very aware of the emotional and financial pressure a TB breakdown places on farmers, their families and communities. The event at the Listowel Arms Hotel drew a large attendance of farmers from across the region.
National figures show improvement
Collins said over €142 million has been earmarked for bovine TB measures under Budget 2027, while existing valuation ceilings for reactor animals have been raised by €500. He said the overall allocation is lower because national bovine TB levels are about 10.9% lower than at the same time last year.
Department statistics covering the 12 months to September 27, 2026 put national herd incidence at 5.40%, down from 6.08%. The number of restricted herds stood at 5,353, a decline of 12%, and the number of reactors was over 36,374, down 9.5%. The minister said above-average disease levels nevertheless persist in several regions.
Action plan and local monitoring
The Bovine TB Action Plan, launched in September 2025, contains some 30 actions that the department says are underpinned by scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise. In April, changes were introduced to animal testing and movement requirements in an effort to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission.
Collins attributed the national reduction to combined efforts by stakeholders to engage with and support farmers in lowering the risk of TB in their herds. He said he was confident that focusing those efforts locally, together with the action plan and this year’s changes, would reduce disease levels further.
The minister told Agriland that the department is monitoring the rise in TB cases in north Kerry and west Limerick on a day-to-day basis. He said he would engage with department officials on a real-time basis because the aim is to reverse the trend, given its significant impact on farmers, farm families and communities. Collins added that he has asked for more resources in terms of manpower to be made available to local staff.