asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the amount of the American Grant Counterpart Fund it is proposed to allocate to the scheme for eradication of bovine tuberculosis; and if, pending the sanction of Congress for the allocation of this proposed sum, he will initiate a scheme for all areas so that the disease may be eradicated at the earliest opportunity.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Tuberculosis: Eradication.
Mr. Walsh
As indicated by me in Dáil Éireann on 16th June last, the approval of the United States authorities has been sought for the expenditure of a sum of £700,000 from Grant Counterpart Funds on a scheme for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and, in addition, a related proposal involving the expenditure of £500,000 on the pasteurisation of skim milk at creameries has also been submitted to the United States authorities. I do not expect that the decision of the United States authorities on these projects will be long delayed and, in the circumstances, I do not think the suggestion in the second part of the question could appropriately be adopted. While I am most anxious that we should make a start as soon as possible with eradication measures, it should be realised that it will inevitably take a considerable time to clear our herds generally of the disease.