Council Calls For Department Action as TB Crises Takes Hold In Wicklow

The outbreak is causing significant financial strain on local farms.

Wicklow County Council is seeking urgent action over a growing bovine TB crisis affecting farms across the county.

Councillors unanimously backed a motion from Gerry O'Neill calling on the Department of Agriculture to outline its plans to tackle the disease.

Councillor O’Neill, who is in West Wicklow, says the prevalence of the disease is impacting many farmers especially those near forested areas:

"... in my immediate area, five farmers have been wiped out".

He says the motion received a lot of immediate support as concern grows over the impact of TB on farmers across the county.

The council is also seeking answers on deer management, compensation for affected farmers and measures to prevent further outbreaks.