asked the Minister for Agriculture if any contingency plan exists in his or any other Department in the event of an outbreak of rabies occurring here; if so, if he will give details of the plan; if no plan exists, if he will now see that such a plan is drawn up without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Rabies Outbreak Plan.
798.
Contingency plans for dealing with an outbreak of rabies are catered for in the Rabies Order, 1976, made under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 (No. 6 of 1966). In the event of such an outbreak in this country, an area within a radius of approximately 12 miles of the outbreak would be declared to be an infected area into and out of which movement of all animals would be restricted and any stray animals discovered locally would be held in any suitable pound available within that area. If no such pound already existed in an area emergency arrangements would be made to provide one immediately.