The European Commission is to fine Ireland €1m for failure to make progress in eradicating bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Ireland faces a further penalty of €1.6m next year as the incidence of TB looks set to increase again in 2019, based on statistics for the first nine months of the year.

The Irish taxpayer will be footing the bill for the gap left by reduced EU funding and the escalating fines have served to focus Department attention on renewing efforts to reduce TB.

In order to continue receiving EU support, disease trends must be maintained on a downward path.

In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, a Department spokesperson said Minister Creed’s primary objective in the upcoming launch of a renewed TB Eradication Strategy was “to help reduce the long- standing burden of TB on the day to day lives of the farming community”.

“Together with other stakeholders, it is important we show leadership in introducing and implementing the measures necessary that can bring TB levels back onto a downward path with the ultimate target of achieving eradication by 2030,” the spokesperson said.

The TB programme cost €92m to run last year, an increase of 10% (€8m) since 2015.

In the same period, TB incidence levels have increased from 3.27% in 2016 to 3.51% in 2018. This means 3,874 herds of the 110,454 tested last year had at least one reactor.

As a result of the EU fine, the State contribution to the programme will increase to €48m (52%).

Farmers will contribute €35.1m (38%) while the EU’s share will drop to €8.8m (10%).