asked the Minister for Agriculture the plans to alleviate the plight of dairy farmers with restricted herds who are unable to sell calves and have no suitable accommodation for them.
Written Answers. - Dairy Farmers.
344.
The movement of calves out of infected herds that are subject to restriction under the disease eradication regulations constitutes a serious risk of spreading disease. Because of this, there is widespread concern among farmers, especially in areas where numbers of calves are normally bought in, to ensure that the legal prohibition on such movement is maintained.
The District Veterinary Offices of my Department will be paying particular attention to helping owners of restricted herds who may be facing problems during the calving season. Everything possible will be done, for example, by ensuring that retests are carried out promptly to clear disease from these herds quickly. In addition, the ACOT advisory service will be altered about such cases so that they may advise on the provision of low-cost temporary accommodation for calves that may have to be retained for a period.
In the light of the present Exchequer situation there are no funds available to provide financial assistance in such cases.