Vol. 355 No. 1
asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department has any evidence that TB is being carried by wildlife; if his Department has made any response to the findings of a test (details supplied) carried out at the veterinary laboratory in Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the future of the disease eradication programme.
566.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the information his Department has on the species of wildlife that have been carriers of TB.
I propose to take Question Nos. 565 and 566 together.
Sporadic occurrences of tuberculosis in badgers and deer have been confirmed but available evidence suggests that infection in these species has not been a very significant factor in the spread of the disease. Extensive epidemiological studies indicate that in the main the disease spreads from herd to herd through direct contact between animals, the result in many instances of inadequate boundary fencing.
In the case referred to by the Deputy, epidemiological investigations have been instituted by my Department to determine the most likely cause of disease spread in the area. My Department does not rule out the possibility of wildlife being a factor and the involvement of badgers is being explored further with the co-operation of the Forest and Wildlife Service.
As regards the future of the disease eradication programme, I would refer the Deputy to paragraph 7.36 of the Government's National Plan Building on Reality 1985-1987.
567.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if there has been a recurrence of TB in cattle in County Monaghan; the reasons for this recurrence; the steps he is taking to eradicate the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to TB breakdowns in herds in the Ballybay, Carrickmacross, Clones and Clontibret areas. These were largely attributable to lateral spread of the disease due to poor fencing and fragmentation of holdings.
My Department is tackling the problem in these areas by intensification of normal eradication measures and, in particular, by special attention to herds contiguous to those in which reactors have been disclosed.
568.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends to improve the grant under the Disease Eradication Act for animals suffering from TB.
570.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the compensation level of grants for farmers with cattle affected by TB; and if he will be taking any steps to increase the grants.
I propose to take Question Nos. 568 and 570 together.
Levels of compensation payable to herdowners under the bovine disease eradication programme are at present being reviewed in the context of a general review of all aspects of that programme.
The current rates of compensation are as follows:
Reactor Grants
|
Non-pedigree |
Pedigree |
|||
|
£ |
£ |
|||
|
A |
B |
A |
B |
|
|
Bovine TB |
||||
|
Cows and in-calf heifers |
225 |
130 |
285 |
165 |
|
Other cattle under 182 kg |
175 |
100 |
220 |
125 |
|
Other cattle 182 kg and over |
85 |
60 |
125 |
85 |
|
Brucellosis |
||||
|
Cows and in-calf heifers |
175 |
130 |
225 |
165 |
|
Other cattle under 182 kg |
145 |
100 |
185 |
125 |
|
Other cattle 182 kg and over |
75 |
60 |
115 |
85 |
Rates in Column A are payable if the reactors are delivered for slaughter within 20 days. Rates in Column B are payable if reactors are delivered for slaughter within 21-30 days.
Depopulation Fund
Where a herd is depopulated on the advice of the local district veterinary office, a payment of £100 may be made on qualifying animals in excess of 20 per cent of the basic herd. The maximum amount payable is £6,000. Qualifying animals are cows, in-calf heifers, bulls and other bovines which kill out at under 100 kgs.
