Bovine tuberculosis (TB) levels in north Kerry and west Limerick are above the national average and are being closely monitored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Minister of State Niall Collins has said.
Speaking at the Listowel Food Fair Farming Seminar on Monday, November 9, Collins described the recent increase in the region as a “hotspot” and said it was “of significant concern.” 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 that a bovine TB breakdown creates for farmers, their families and their communities. He noted that levels in north Kerry and west Limerick were above the national average and that the issue was being watched.
Budget and national trend
Collins said more than €142 million was earmarked for bovine TB measures under Budget 2027, while existing valuation ceilings for reactor animals were increased by €500. The overall allocation is lower, he explained, because national bovine TB levels have fallen by about 10.9% compared with the same time last year.
He said that while the recent local rise was worrying, there had been positive signs nationally in recent months. He credited efforts by all stakeholders to engage with farmers and reduce the risk that TB poses to Irish herds and rural communities.
The 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 stood at 5,353, a decline of 12%, while the number of reactors was over 36,374, down 9.5%.
Despite that national reduction, above-average levels of the disease persist in various regions across the country. Collins said the national decline reflected combined efforts by stakeholders to support farmers in reducing bTB risk in their herds, and he expressed confidence that focused local action, alongside the bTB Action Plan and changes introduced this year, would drive disease levels down further.
Action plan and local resources
The Bovine TB Action Plan, launched in September 2025, contains some 30 actions grounded in scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise. In April, changes to animal testing and animal movement requirements were introduced to reduce cattle-to-cattle transmission.
Collins said 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 departmental officials in real time because the aim is to reverse the trend, given its significant impact on farmers, farm families and communities.
He added that he had asked for more resources in terms of manpower to be made available to local staff to help them respond.