asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the failure of the bovine disease eradication programme, he has noted a recent suggestion that overall responsibility for this programme should be transferred to a new body representative of ACOT, the farmers' organisation and the veterinary profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Disease Eradication Programme.
15.
I do not accept that the bovine disease eradication programme has been a failure. While we have not yet eradicated bovine TB. I would point out that animal incidence has been reduced from 17 per cent to the very low level of .2 per cent and I see no reason to believe that this disease will not be totally eradicated.
The other major scheme — the Brucellosis Eradication Scheme — has made very satisfactory progress to date and this disease is well on the way to total eradication.
Is there any target date for the total eradication of either of these diseases? Will the Minister accept that in order to judge the effectiveness of these programmes against the expectations of those spending the money, it would not be desirable that a specific target date for eradication should be set in respect of both bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis?
Progress under the brucellosis eradication scheme has been such that there appears to be a real prospect that the disease may be eradicated in about five years. The bovine TB is less satisfactory but animal incidence has been reduced from 17 per cent in the mid-fifties to .2 per cent. Admittedly the incidence has risen somewhat over the past year or so but some fluctuation is inevitable and appropriate steps are being taken to deal with this situation. Setting out the nature of these measures can only be done in reply to a specific Parliamentary Question.
I appreciate that. I would like to thank the Minister for giving the figure of five years as the possible date for the eradication of brucellosis. Would he hazard any attempt at saying whether it will be five or ten years before we can expect to have bovine TB eradicted?
There has been a significant reduction. On that basis I hope that it will be eradicated in ten years.
Would the Minister not accept that, as in any business where targets are set out, when those targets are not being met this would indicate that the whole scheme has been a failure?
I would not agree that it has been a failure, because we have reduced it to .2 per cent. While last year there may have been some slight increase in the incidence, at present the Department are investigating the whole scheme and it is hoped that there would be concentration on badly affected areas to reduce the percentage rate.
Would the Minister not admit that it has taken roughly twice as long here as it did in Great Britain? Could the Minister give us any idea in regard to whether the Department have examined the unexpected outbreaks in certain parts of the country? The annoying thing is that this has happened in herds where people did not buy in cattle.
I agree with the Deputy that we have had our problems, particularly over the past 12 months or so. But the real problem is that there is so much movement of cattle in comparison with other European countries. As I said, the Department anticipate concentration on badly affected areas and I hope that will bring about the desired result.
Would the Minister not agree that the high incidence of TB and brucellosis followed the long dispute with the veterinary officers under the Coalition Government and that it is only now, after a number of years, that the Department are reducing the incidence and that it was due entirely to a dispute which was long drawn out, lasting for two years?
I would agree with the Deputy that that unfortunate delay of two years brought about the situation that we have. If it had not been for that delay we would probably be better off so far as the incidence of TB and brucellosis is concerned.