A new pilot project to tackle bovine TB will be run in an all-island capacity in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister for Agriculture in Northern Ireland Andrew Muir announced the project on Friday 10 October.

It is a part of the Shared Island Initiative and will aim to tackle the growing impact of TB on farms in a pilot area.

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Minister Heydon said the Department’s recently published TB Action Plan noted the need for continued collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to tackle TB, a disease that affects cattle farming across this island.

“I welcome this innovative new project and look forward to working with Minister Muir to agree the detail of this project in the weeks ahead,” he added.

Welcoming the initiative, Minister Muir said: “Some of the most difficult conversations I have had since coming into this post last year have been with those farmers whose herds are down with bovine TB.

“The economic impact along with the emotional and mental health stress TB breakdowns place on farm families highlight the importance of working together as we maximise our efforts to tackle this costly disease.”

Both Departments will now engage in developing the overall approach for the cooperation project which is to focus on implementation of measures on a coordinated regional basis, to support reduction of TB incidence and transmission.

The project will be consistent with and contribute to the Department of Agriculture and DAERA’s overall policies and approach on working with farmers to tackle bovine TB.

A further announcement on the detail of the project will take place once this work is completed.