asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline his plans for the carrying out of research into disease eradication, particularly tuberculosis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disease Eradication Research.
6.
My Department's veterinary research laboratory is continuously engaged in research into bovine diseases. In the context of the bovine TB eradication programme, the laboratory undertakes specific projects in order, inter alia, to establish the degree of infectiousness of the disease and to assess the potency of the tuberculins used. A working group representative of various sections of the veterinary profession, set up in 1984 to identify particular aspects of TB that might require further investigation, have also initiated a number of research projects and an epidemiology unit, headed by a senior officer of the veterinary research laboratory, is actively involved in the analysis of particular disease outbreaks.
These specific research projects are an integral part of the eradication programme and they supplement the normal field investigations carried out by the Department's veterinarians in the course of tracing and controlling outbreaks of disease.
(Limerick West): It is not a fact that while the committee were set up in 1984, they are now hamstrung because of lack of financial assistance?
The amount of money spent in the last nine months has been unprecedented, and so have the results. For the first time we are seeing positive results. There is a shortfall in finance this year but I am hoping I will be able to get resources from some other area, with the result that there will be no cutback in our TB eradication scheme.
(Limerick West): Does the Minister agree that research is vital in the eradication programme, particularly in relation to TB, and that any shortfall in that area would ultimately be detrimental to the eventual total eradication of the disease? Would the Minister have information about research?
There will be no shortfall in regard to what I would call the epidemiology part of it.
(Limerick West): Has the Minister any information about the incidence of TB among badgers?
In regard to badgers, we have carried out a programme in South County Galway where we have been capturing badgers under the most humane possible conditions. We have found that the incidence of the disease is alarmingly high among them, between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of the animals captured were affected. These figures have given cause for concern. This programme has been in a good cause. The point is that badgers have a large incidence of TB and therefore are a danger.
Would the Minister confirm the amount of money available for screening the national herd? There is grave concern that there is not enough money to do that.
The figure in the Estimate is £24½ million. I would need more money to do the programme as I would wish. Yesterday, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and I had a most useful meeting with the IFA and this was one of the matters we discussed at some length. It is a top priority with me and I am hoping I will have enough money to do exactly what needs to be done.
I am glad to hear that.
I hope I will be able to live up to my promise in that regard.