Ministers launch whole island bovine TB project
(Left to right) Dr June Fanning, Republic of Ireland Chief Veterinary Officer, minister Martin Heydon, minister Andrew Muir, Dr Brian Dooher Northern Ireland chief veterinary officer. Photo: Philip Mulligan.
A pilot cooperation project has been launched to tackle bovine TB as part of the Shared Island Initiative.
This project will see the Department of Agriculture and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) collaborate in a pilot area in the north-east of Donegal and the north-west of Northern Ireland on measures that aim to provide a proof of concept for a regional approach to TB eradication.
The project aims to ultimately lead to a reduction in disease levels, reactor numbers and exchequer spending on TB over time in both jurisdictions.
While there is a strong history of co-operation between the two departments, this is the first time they have taken a collaborative approach to bovine TB management in areas crossing the border.
Welcoming the announcement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I am delighted to see this cross-border co-operation programme on tackling bovine TB, as part of the Shared Island Initiative, get underway. Across the island, the challenges and opportunities we face in many sectors are both comparable and interconnected, including in agriculture.
"I look forward to seeing what positive impacts this project will have in supporting farmers across the selected region to prevent and eradicate this disease.”
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Agriculture, Martin Heydon, said: “I am delighted to be able to formally launch this project along with Minister Muir and progress the work from both our departments in tackling bovine TB.
As a single epidemiological area, it makes sense for us to tackle disease control and eradication together, with the support provided through the Shared Island Fund. I look forward to seeing positive outcomes from this pilot project.”
Also speaking at the launch, minister Muir added: “Today marks a significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to combat bovine TB across this island. The launch of this research proof-of-concept project epitomises our commitment to finding innovative solutions and advancing TB control and eradication.
"Farmers are at the heart of this initiative, and their insights and experiences are invaluable in shaping future policies and strategies.”
The project also aligns with both departments’ strategies on the eradication of bovine TB and the objectives of the Shared Island Initiative of working together on an all-island basis to address common strategic challenges.
Through the Shared Island Fund, the Government of Ireland will contribute €6.5 million towards the total projected costs of €11.7m over the five years of the pilot project, with the remaining costs being funded by both departments as applicable.
Following public engagement with stakeholders in late 2025, the project will continue its scoping exercise for research strands over the coming months. The holistic package of measures, which seeks to address sources of disease transmission and persistence, will be rolled out over five years to maximise its impact on disease eradication.
