In 2018, after trials demonstrated that a policy of badger vaccination was at least as effective as badger culling in controlling bovine TB breakdowns, my Department introduced a badger vaccination policy.
Since then, in line with the Programme for Government and on the basis of scientific evidence specific areas have been subject to ongoing appraisal and badger vaccination areas have increased in number and area each year.
As a result, the number of badgers captured in these areas has increased year-on-year and is expected to increase on an ongoing basis.
Table 1.Badgers Captured in Vaccination Areas
DVO Office
|
Total Badgers Captured in Vaccination Areas
2019
|
Total Badgers Captured in Vaccination Areas
2020
|
Total Badgers Captured in Vaccination Areas
2021
|
Total Badgers Captured in Vaccination Areas
2022 To Date
|
Carlow
|
0
|
43
|
158
|
164
|
Cavan
|
50
|
56
|
9
|
142
|
Clare
|
0
|
0
|
23
|
7
|
Cork North
|
80
|
217
|
409
|
292
|
Cork South
|
48
|
154
|
185
|
106
|
Donegal
|
37
|
124
|
259
|
300
|
Dublin
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Galway
|
126
|
211
|
295
|
221
|
Kerry
|
24
|
261
|
205
|
28
|
Kildare
|
0
|
220
|
340
|
166
|
Kilkenny
|
480
|
780
|
818
|
448
|
Laois
|
42
|
209
|
258
|
187
|
Leitrim
|
0
|
21
|
285
|
188
|
Limerick
|
20
|
131
|
146
|
123
|
Longford
|
90
|
194
|
489
|
330
|
Louth
|
55
|
370
|
427
|
271
|
Mayo
|
27
|
176
|
294
|
241
|
Meath
|
67
|
47
|
20
|
50
|
Monaghan
|
79
|
168
|
201
|
155
|
Offaly
|
168
|
147
|
193
|
99
|
Roscommon
|
59
|
122
|
126
|
68
|
Sligo
|
0
|
0
|
28
|
31
|
Tipperary North
|
109
|
137
|
313
|
140
|
Tipperary South
|
157
|
344
|
493
|
288
|
Waterford
|
190
|
378
|
234
|
237
|
Westmeath
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Wexford
|
0
|
146
|
308
|
181
|
Wicklow East
|
29
|
46
|
70
|
120
|
Wicklow West
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Totals
|
1937
|
4702
|
6586
|
4583
|
Badger Capture in Vaccination Areas Costs
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022 To Date
|
|
€m
|
€m
|
€m
|
€m
|
Operational Costs
|
0.682
|
1.409
|
1.773
|
1.078
|
*Services/Supplies Costs
|
0.097
|
0.136
|
0.139
|
0.200
|
Total
|
0.779
|
1.545
|
1.912
|
1.278
|
*The expenditure on services and supplies supports the overall Badger Capture and Vaccination programme and cannot be apportioned between the capture and vaccination projects.