The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is closely monitoring a bovine tuberculosis (TB) hotspot in north Kerry and west Limerick, Minister of State Niall Collins has said.
Speaking at the Listowel Food Fair Farming Seminar on Monday, November 9, Collins said levels of the disease in the region are above the national average. The event at the Listowel Arms Hotel drew a large crowd of farmers from across the region.
Collins said his department is very aware of the emotional and financial challenge that a bovine TB breakdown presents for farmers, their families and their communities. He described the rise in north Kerry and in his own west Limerick as worrying and above the national average, adding that it is an issue the department is monitoring and one of significant concern.
Budget and supports
The minister said more than €142 million has been earmarked for bovine TB measures under Budget 2027, while the existing valuation ceilings were increased by €500 for reactor animals.
He explained that the overall allocation is lower than before because nationally bovine TB has fallen by about 10.9% compared with the same time last year. While the recent local rise is worrying, he said positive signs have been seen nationally in recent months thanks to the efforts of all stakeholders engaging with farmers to reduce the risk the disease poses to Irish herds and rural communities.
According to Collins, the department's continued focus is on reducing disease levels, which would in turn reduce the impact of bovine TB on farm families, cut the cost of the programme and lower costs for farmers and the taxpayer.
Action plan and testing changes
The Bovine TB Action Plan, launched in September 2025, contains some 30 actions underpinned by scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise. In April, a number of changes to animal testing and animal movement requirements were introduced to reduce the transmission of TB from cattle to cattle.
Department statistics for the 12 months to September 27, 2026 show national herd incidence at 5.40%, down from 6.08%. The number of herds restricted stood at 5,353, a decrease of 12%, while the number of reactors was over 36,374, down 9.5%. Above-average levels of the disease nevertheless persist in various regions across the country.
Collins said the national reduction reflects the combined efforts of all stakeholders in supporting farmers to lower the risk of bTB in their herds, and expressed confidence that focusing those efforts locally, alongside the action plan and this year's changes, will drive disease levels down further.
He 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 be engaging 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. The minister added that he has asked for more resources in terms of manpower to be made available to local staff.