New figures show 28 vets were suspended from TB testing by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) between January 2024 and March 2026.

According to the department the "quality" of TB testing by private veterinary practitioners is monitored and checked by the local Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) under the direction of senior veterinary staff.

In a statement issued to Agriland DAFM outlined that "when non-compliances are detected relating to the TB testing, the private veterinary practitioner concerned may be suspended from TB testing by the department".

In the first quarter of 2026 there were 48 inspections carried out of private veterinary inspectors involved in TB testing.

DAFM confirmed that four private veterinary inspectors were given a "suspension for a period of time" from carrying out testing under the TB programme in the first quarter of 2026.

TB testing

According to the department the major "non-compliances" detected during inspections of TB testing by private veterinary practitioners in the past 24 months included:

Failure to prepare prior to performing a test;
Non compliant siting of tuberculin injections;
Failure to clip correctly;
Failure to measure tuberculin reactions;
Failure to use correctly functioning equipment to perform the test:
Recording incorrect information;
Incorrect certification;
Failure to accurately record all tag numbers at beginning and end of test.

DAFM has also said that "high quality testing is of critical importance" to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine's Bovine TB Action Plan, which was published last September.

The department added that the monitoring of TB testing by private veterinary inspectors "aims to ensure the consistent application of uniform standards across the country, and to function as a safeguard in relation to the maintenance of high standards of testing". 

Last year more than €157 million was earmarked as part of Budget 2026 to tackle the high rates of TB in Ireland.