andMr. O.J. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of each of the years 1968-69 and 1969-70 what grant was made available for medical and scientific research in the experimental field; what proportion of that grant was used to investigate alternative means of experimentation not involving the use of living animals; and whether his Department or the Medical Research Council make it a condition of a grant that no living animal will be used where an alternative technique is available.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical and Scientific Research.
5.
Grants totalling £104,000 and £129,000 were paid to the Medical Research Council in the years 1968-69 and 1969-70 respectively. No portion of these amounts was, to quote the Deputies' words, "channelled towards the provision of alternative means of experimentation not involving the use of living animals".
The answer to the final part of the question is in the negative. The Deputies will be aware of the restrictions and safeguards contained in the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.