Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has announced the launch of the Biosecurity Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health (TASAH) Scheme for 2026.

This scheme aims to support farmers to assess and implement biosecurity measures on their farms. Practicing good biosecurity on farm is key to protecting and improving animal health, welfare and productivity, as well as delivering benefits for public health in people, through reduced antiparasitic and antimicrobial medicine usage, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) said. Minister Heydon stated: “I am delighted to announce that national exchequer funding of €8.6 million will support the biosecurity TASAH 2026.

"This will allow the completion of 26,000 biosecurity assessments across a range of livestock enterprises including parasite control assessments on cattle and sheep farms as well as equine premises."

Biosecurity

The Biosecurity TASAH, which will deliver veterinary advice at no cost to farmers, is operated by Animal Health Ireland on behalf of the DAFM and builds on previous iterations of this scheme. 

Farmers can register online from today (Tuesday, June 2).

The scheme will run from June 2, 2026, for three consecutive years until the end of 2028.   Minister Heydon added that the economic return on investment in animal health "has never been as high as it has in recent years given where livestock values in many sectors have gone".

"The contribution of this programme and the engagement by both private veterinary practitioners and farmers will provide everyone with the effective tools to ensure the health and welfare of all livestock on their farms is protected into the future," the minister said.

"It is also a key element of the 'One Health One Welfare' approach to protecting animal and human health which are intrinsically linked.”