Vol. 485 No. 4
39 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will provide extra resources to fund research into BSE and new variant CJD; if he will have arrangements made to allow an exchange of scientific personnel working in Ireland to visit and work in various research centres where relevant research is currently taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23332/97]
By agreement with the EU Commission, funding has been provided for BSE related research under the institutional research and development element of the food sub-programme 1994-99. To date, six projects have been approved for such research relating to the disposal of meat and bone meal, the eradication of scrapie, antemortem and post-mortem diagnostics of BSE and scrapie, and animal and meat traceability at a total cost of £1.29 million.
Apart from this the central veterinary research laboratory at Abbotstown also carries out research work and staff at this laboratory and veterinary staff in the Department maintain close contact with research work being undertaken at national and international levels.
