Bluetongue vaccination will be included as an option in the 2026 beef and sheep welfare schemes, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has confirmed.

It is expected that the 2026 National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS) will open for applications in the first half of April.

Similar to previous years, the 2026 Beef Welfare Scheme (BWS) is due to open in August.

In 2026 the NSWS will include an option to vaccinate, and farmers may choose to vaccinate against either bluetongue or clostridial diseases.

Participants in this year's BWS may choose to vaccinate against either BTV, clostridial diseases or calf pneumonia.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) said full details of the structure and format of the schemes will be announced closer to the launch dates.

Bluetongue

Minister Heydon said he is publicising this new option now "so that farmers thinking of vaccinating animals in advance of the 2026 schemes being rolled out can do so confident that vaccinating for bluetongue will be subsidised at existing payment rates".

"Spring is the optimum time for vaccinating for bluetongue, which should take place before the higher risk period during the warmer summer months," he said.

Minister Heydon added that vaccination can reduce the impact and severity of bluetongue virus on livestock.

He added this can mitigate both animal health and welfare issues and the production losses which an infection may cause.

"I am aware that bluetongue has been a concern for many farmers since the first case was detected in this country in January.

"In Budget 2026, I secured €50 million for the continuation of the highly successful beef and sheep welfare schemes operated by my department in 2025.

"As protecting animal health is always a paramount consideration, I have decided that farmers participating in this year’s welfare schemes should have the option to vaccinate against bluetongue virus as well as clostridial diseases and calf pneumonia which were also funded under last year’s schemes," he said.

Vaccine

Bluetongue is a viral disease caused which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species such as cattle, sheep and goats, deer and camelids (alpacas and llamas).

There are many different serotypes of bluetongue virus and bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV3) is the serotype circulating in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

DAFM has said there is no public health risk associated with bluetongue as it does not affect human health or food safety.

However, the disease can have significant animal health and trade implications and can cause economic losses at farm level.

Cattle and sheep farmers are being encouraged by the department to seek veterinary advice on whether vaccination is appropriate to their circumstances.

Farmers may obtain bluetongue vaccines from their veterinary practitioner, under licence from the department.

DAFM said that ongoing surveillance for the disease is continuing across the country.