With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
Varying levels of selenium have been found in soil samples from ten counties, the highest concentration being found in samples from County Meath.
In the past two years samples from two horses and three cattle in County Meath were referred to my Department's Veterinary Research Laboratory for investigation of suspected selenium poisoning. Levels indicative of toxic intake were found in a horse and two cattle.
No case involving suspected selenium poisoning had been referred to the laboratory from any part of the country in the ten years prior to 1975. There are no scientific findings to indicate that the dry summers of the past two years caused an increase in the risk of selenium poisoning nor is there any reason to believe that the disturbance of shale or the spreading of spoil from the river Boyne increased the risk.
As regards the Deputy's reference to the information on selenium levels in certain areas of County Meath issued by the Agricultural Institute in the mid-sixties, the position is that the specific areas pinpointed as presenting a selenium problem are well known to the agricultural advisory officers in the area who tailor their advice to the farmers involved accordingly.
There is no formal programme of research on selenium poisoning at present but the subject has been dealt with at a number of scientific meetings and seminars in this country. The problem was researched in considerable depth in Meath, Limerick and Tipperary in the 1950's.
Acute selenium poisoning has not been found to be amenable to treatment. The various forms of chronic selenium intoxication have been treated with a variety of substances with variable results.
