asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the estimated number of unlicensed bulls in the country; and how his Department propose to deal with this grave problem.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Unlicensed Bulls.
9.
Such an estimate is not available, but 588 unlicensed bulls were detected in the course of a widespread search last year. Court proceedings were taken against the owners in respect of 483 of these. Appropriate warning letters were issued in the remaining cases.
Each year, an extensive comb for these bulls is carried out by the Garda Síochána and by officers of my Department, including some staff specially employed for this purpose. Last year, additional staff were employed over a longer period, and similar arrangements have been made this year. Furthermore, grants are not paid under the Calved Heifer Scheme to any farmer found to have an unlicensed bull or an animal which was mated with an unlicensed bull.