The launch of the Biosecurity Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health (TASAH) Scheme to support farmers to assess and implement biosecurity measures on their farms has been announced by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

It will deliver veterinary advice at no cost to farmers. It is operated by Animal Health Ireland on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and builds on previous iterations of this scheme.

Practising good biosecurity on-farm is key to protecting and improving animal health, welfare and productivity, as well as delivering benefits for public health in people, through reduced anti-parasitic and antimicrobial medicine usage.

Minister Heydon stated: “I am delighted to announce that national exchequer funding of €8.6m will support the biosecurity TASAH 2026. This will allow the completion of 26,000 biosecurity assessments across a range of livestock enterprises including parasite control assessments on cattle and sheep farms as well as equine premises."

Farmers can register online from today at Animal Health Ireland. The scheme will run from 2 June 2026 for three consecutive years until the end of 2028.

Concluding, the Minister added: “The contribution of this programme and the engagement by both private veterinary practitioners (PVPs) and farmers will provide everyone with the effective tools to ensure the health and welfare of all livestock on their farms is protected into the future. It is also a key element of the One Health One Welfare approach to protecting animal and human health which are intrinsically linked.”