To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail the (i) current; and (ii) projected annual cost to (a) the public purse; and (b) farmers by not implementing a Bovine TB Eradication Strategy as soon as possible.

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is one of the most challenging issues faced by cattle farmers in Northern Ireland (NI).

Herd incidence is currently at 10.15% and in the last financial year, the NI bTB programme cost to government was just under £55.7m, with £36.5m of this paid as compensation for the removal of bovines. Current estimates for this year indicate the cost of the programme could rise to around £60m.

In 2021, a business case supporting development of the NI bTB Eradication Strategy estimated farmer costs, resulting from a bTB breakdown in Northern Ireland, to be just over £14m in total per annum. However, it is acknowledged that rises in bTB incidence will have also resulted in increasing costs to farmers and farm businesses.

The costs of controlling this disease are therefore not sustainable for either the public purse or for hard working farm businesses.

I have asked my Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) to undertake a review of TB policy and the TB programme, including the actions contained in the TB Eradication Strategy. The CVO has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders during this review, and I am looking forward to considering his recommendations shortly. The review will include a new delivery plan, will seek to address the current high levels of bovine TB incidence in Northern Ireland, the high costs to government and industry, and will clearly set out our priorities over the time ahead.