asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the assistance that has been given by his Department to farmers in the south and east Galway areas to eradicate tuberculosis in wildlife; the number of licences issued by his Department to remove species of wildlife; the results of tests carried out on wildlife examined for disease; and if he will make a statement on any further action proposed by his Department.
Written Answers. - Bovine TB Eradication.
543.
My Department is not directly involved in matters relating to disease in livestock nor is there any fund available from which it could provide the kind of assistance referred to. While the information available to me would suggest that wildlife species are not a significant factor in the transmission of bovine tuberculosis my Department co-operates in the testing of badgers and other wildlife species where there is any suspicion of a possible link with the spread of the disease. In this context licences have recently been granted to the Department of Agriculture to take badgers for testing from a number of farms in the Creggs and Ardrahan areas and the results of these tests are awaited.