Vol. 245 No. 6
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will immediately extend the brucellosis eradication scheme to Counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon in order to protect the dairy farmer from loss and to protect the health of the people in view of reports that the disease is spreading there.
22.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when he intends to declare the counties along the western seaboard a brucellosis clearance area.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
I hope to make an announcement within the next few weeks about the extension of the brucellosis eradication scheme.
Is the Minister aware of the urgency of the problem that exists in the west of Ireland due to brucellosis and is he aware that due to the financial circumstances of the farmers in the area they are finding it hard to bear the losses sustained? I wish to press the Minister on the urgency of this problem in the west.
Whatever about the more widespread incidence, I am certainly aware of all the matters the Deputy has mentioned. Indeed, it is this that has impelled the Government to get on with the scheme to eradicate brucellosis. The Deputy will understand it is not something we can do overnight. While we are making steady progress, while we are progressively enlarging our area and sphere of operations, it must be emphasised it cannot be done overnight. Therefore, there is no point in trying to cod anybody into believing that it can. I can say, however, that in the near future we will extend beyond the five counties. As I have said, I am aware of all the matters the Deputy has mentioned and I will be announcing something in the next two weeks.
