asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department have any proposals for the establishment of an effective disease monitoring system for cereal crops.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cereal Disease Monitoring System.
26.
Mr. Walsh
My Department are currently examining ways of strengthening and improving the cereal disease monitoring system which was introduced last year.
What staff are involved in this monitoring system during the season and what improvements has the Minister in mind?
I cannot give the Deputy the number of staff but the steps towards a monitoring system included an ad hoc arrangement in 1977 for the collection of information on diseases in cereal crops. Over 2,000 acres were recorded by the Department's field staff and the main diseases covered were mildew, vetchesporium and yellow rust. The year 1977 was a year when disease levels generally were low throughout the country. I do not think there is any more information I can give the Deputy.
The Minister said that there are improvements.
There are, but I have not got the number of staff involved.