asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will introduce a differential milk price to encourage farmers to eradicate brucellosis from their dairy herds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Eradication Scheme.
23.
I have no power to regulate the actual price for milk paid by creameries to their suppliers.
As regards the producer price of liquid milk in the Dublin and Cork areas, minimum prices are fixed by order but it would not be practicable to introduce a measure such as that suggested in those two areas alone. In any event, the quantity of milk and the number of suppliers so involved are such that any effect a differential milk price might have in eradicating brucellosis would not be significant.
24.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will introduce further incentives to encourage the voluntary eradication of brucellosis.
25.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether the eradication of brucellosis has been slowed down due to the inability of factories to accept reactor cows; whether this will mean that the disease will not be eradicated before 1978; and if he will indicate the effect of this on the cattle industry.
26.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the complete breakdown in the brucellosis eradication scheme particularly in dairying counties; and the immediate action, if any, he proposes to take to improve the situation.
27.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reason for the delay in the removal of brucellosis-infected animals from farms.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 to 27 together.
There has neither been a breakdown nor a slow down in the working of the compulsory scheme for the eradication of brucellosis which operates in the 13 counties comprising the brucellosis free area and the brucellosis clearance area and there has been no undue delay in the removal of reactor animals from farms in those areas. The Deputies may have in mind the pre-intensive brucellosis scheme which is a voluntary scheme operating in the southern counties to which the compulsory scheme has not been extended. Participation in that scheme is not as great as I would like it to be even though the rates of grant have already been increased significantly since the scheme was introduced in August, 1973. The number of participants is, however, now increasing and many of the larger creameries are in consultation with my Department as to how they can assist in the promotion and the operation of the scheme. The disposal of reactors under the scheme is a matter for private arrangement between the herdowners and the proprietors of meat factories and I am aware that herdowners are experiencing delays in having their reactors taken up by factories. I have been informed that these delays are due to the large numbers of cattle being purchased by factories at present.
The date of final eradication of the disease will depend largely on the incidence of infection disclosed in the counties not yet subject to compulsory eradication measures and on the degree of co-operation received from herdowners and all other interests concerned.
I am glad the Parliamentary Secretary is aware of the delay. I am sure he is aware also that the reason for the delay is that factories are more interested in capturing the intervention and slaughter premiums for cheap cattle than in taking them from the Department.
A question, Deputy, please.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary is he aware— and I am sure he is because he says he is aware of delays—that this is the reason for the main delay, there is more profit out of the other proposition.
Unfortunately, the Deputy's assertion is right. There are delays and herdowners are meeting difficulties in the disposal of reactors under this scheme, as factory capacity is taken up largely by other types of animals, intervention beef and so on. There is a delay and the Department are trying to do all they possibly can to ensure that a change will come about, so far as factories are concerned, in taking brucellosis animals, because it is desirable that animals affected by brucellosis should be removed from farms without delay. The Minister is concerned that some herdowners are experiencing difficulties in the sale of affected animals to factories. Let us hope there will be a change of mind in the not-too-distant future.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary tell us what steps the Minister has taken and what progress he has made in this regard, leaving diseased animals on farms or perhaps locking up the whole herd in some cases?
The Minister has taken all the steps necessary.
What progress has he made?
He has been in contact with the factories concerned with a view to getting them to give priority to affected animals. I have no doubt his representations will bear fruit.
How soon does the Parliamentary Secretary think diseased animals will be taken off the farms?
I can assure the Deputy that the Minister is doing his job very effectively.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the indications from the factories now are that the end of January or early February is the earliest date on which cattle could be taken? Does the Parliamentary Secretary accept that this is an extraordinary delay with regard to diseased animals? Will the Parliamentary Secretary and the Minister ensure that every effort is made to speed this up?
As the Deputy is aware, there is an over-supply of cattle to factories at present. That being the case, factories cannot accommodate every farmer anxious to sell his cattle at present. I am informed that this position will cease or phase out within the next few weeks. Then it will be possible to ensure that cattle will be accepted, and particularly those affected by brucellosis, without delay.
Present indications do not bear that out. The factories are indicating a date of the end of January or early February next.
The Minister has been in consultation with the factories with regard to this very vital question.