Tenders are being sought for the provision of "suitably trained and skilled operatives" to assist in delivery of the badger capture and inspections programme, badger activity scoring and new sett surveys.

This work is to be carried out for the TB Eradication Programme of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Approximately 200 operatives may be required to perform all the duties for badger capture and inspection, and for surveying and sett classification.

The objective of the programme is the capture and inspection of badgers from the farms identified by the DAFM with a view to eradicating and/or reducing TB.

TB programme

The TB eradication programme contains a comprehensive wildlife strategy in order to limit the spread of TB from badgers to cattle, tender documents outline.

"The badger is a protected species under the Wildlife Act," DAFM said. 

"Where there has been a TB breakdown, and badgers are identified as the cause, the badgers are captured in restraints and humanely culled and removed, under licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

"It is important to stress that capturing and removal is undertaken only in areas where serious outbreaks of TB have been identified in cattle herds and where an epidemiological investigation carried out by the department’s veterinary inspectorate has found that badgers are the likely source of infection. 

"The department is very conscious of the welfare of badgers and any removal of badgers is carried out in accordance with the licence."

Services

DAFM said that services are generally required between September and June but may be required throughout the whole year.

The service is to be provided throughout the country and can take place in all counties simultaneously.

The tenderer must be able to supply suitably trained operatives to safely carry out the duties, DAFM said.

They must have the resources to deploy operators each year from September to June for the term of the contract, and to capture between an estimated 5,000 and 20,000 badgers per annum.

Among other requirements, the tenderer "must be able to demonstrate appropriate training, gun storage, licensing of firearms and procedures for the safe handling of badger carcasses", DAFM said.