The EU Commission has reduced funding to Ireland’s TB eradication programme by €975,000 for failing to meet targets.

The Department of Agriculture told the Irish Farmers Journal that the Commission could reduce funding to Ireland if goals for TB eradication were not met.

It said prior to 2019, Ireland had not been subject to any reduction, but due to increased rates from mid-2019, the penalty was applied.

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Department figures for the first quarter of this year show a “marked increase” in the national herd incidence for TB, which rose from a rate of 2.64% to 3.26%.

Figures for this year indicate that TB infection rates remain stubbornly persistent in certain counties such as Clare, Wicklow and Cavan.

“It is critically important to build on the positive progress in disease reduction in recent years and to reverse the more recent upwards trajectory by implementing the recommendations of the draft TB Forum Report,” the Department of Agriculture said.

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