Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Niall Collins has said a bovine tuberculosis (TB) hotspot in north Kerry and west Limerick is a “significant concern,” with local disease levels running above the national average.
Speaking at the Listowel Food Fair Farming Seminar on Monday, November 9, Collins said the department is closely monitoring the rise. The event at the Listowel Arms Hotel drew a large crowd of farmers from across the region.
Collins said the department was “very aware of the emotional and financial challenge” a TB breakdown creates for farmers, their families and communities. He described the local increase as worrying and said it was an issue being monitored.
He told the seminar that over €142 million was earmarked for bovine TB measures under Budget 2027, and that existing valuation ceilings for reactor animals had been raised by €500. The overall allocation is lower, he said, because national TB levels are about 10.9% lower than at the same time last year.
Collins said that while the recent local rise was concerning, there had been positive national signs in recent months. He attributed the reduction to efforts by all stakeholders to engage with farmers and lower the risk TB poses to Irish herds and rural communities.
He said the national reduction was due to the combined efforts of all stakeholders in engaging and supporting farmers to reduce bTB risk in their herds.
National figures
The Bovine TB Action Plan, launched in September 2025, contains around 30 actions supported by scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise. In April, changes were introduced to animal testing and movement requirements to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission.
Latest department statistics, covering the 12 months to September 27, 2026, show national herd incidence at 5.40%, down from 6.08%. The number of restricted herds fell 12% to 5,353, while the number of reactors was over 36,374, down 9.5%.
Despite the national decline, above-average disease levels persist in several regions. Collins said focusing efforts locally, alongside the action plan and this year’s changes, should drive disease levels down further.
Local monitoring
He said the department is monitoring the rise in north Kerry and west Limerick on a day-to-day basis and that he would engage with officials in real time to try to reverse the trend. Collins added that he has requested more manpower resources for local staff.
Collins said the department’s continued focus is on reducing disease levels, which would in turn reduce the impact on farm families and lower programme costs and costs for farmers and taxpayers.