Almost one-third of the Department of Agriculture’s TB budget had been spent at the half way mark of this year as falling reactor numbers take pressure off a budget that had been straining in 2025.

Budget 2026’s €85m increase to €157m in bovine TB funds hoovered up half of agriculture’s year-on-year allocation boost.

However, just €48.5m was spent by the end of June, equivalent to 31% of the available funds for the entire year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Accounting for €6m for on-farm TB biosecurity measures takes the portion of spent funds to just 35%.

The fall in Department TB spending comes as calls have been renewed to lift TB reactor compensation caps after almost 9% of reactors last year were compensated below market value.