Ireland's bTB spend projected to hit €1bn

The department has projected €1bn will need to be spent on the programme over the years 2021 to 2030, ‘unless significant reductions in disease can be achieved'.

The Department of Agriculture’s expenditure on the programme has “risen steadily” from 2015 to present.

The Committee of Public Accounts has warned of its concerns over the Department of Agriculture's projected €1bn spend on the bovine TB eradication programme to 2030.

Unless significant reductions in the disease are seen in Ireland, the Committee of Public Accounts report warned eradication of the disease "would appear to be even further away than it was in 2016”.