asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that the Government's commitment in the national plan Building on Reality 1985-1987 regarding bovine disease eradication is being achieved, and in particular, that substantial additional funding is being set aside for disease eradication; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Disease Eradication.
31.
The Government remain fully committed to the eradication of bovine diseases. This is evidenced by the successful campaign against brucellosis that enabled the Government to declare the national herd officially brucellosis free earlier this year and by the exceptional intensity of testing for bovine TB during the 1985-86 round, that ended in April. The high cost of that round, much of which had to be paid for in 1986, coupled with other unavoidable cost increases and some reduction in public funding due to the difficult budgetary situation, will not permit a further full round of testing in 1986. The experience gained during the 1985-86 round of testing has been used to allocate the resources available this year in such a way as to make the maximum possible impact on the disease situation. The £29 million spent on disease eradication in 1985 was substantially in excess of expenditure in other years and the £24.5 million allocated to the schemes in 1986 is also well above the norm.
Does the Minister or do the Government wish to retain any shred of credibility in relation to the national plan, Building on Reality, where a specific commitment was given to eradicate this disease and to that aim additional funds should be made available? The Minister will be aware that the only people who made additional funds available were the farmers.
That is not fair. We spent £27 million in 1985 and we are spending £25.5 million in the current year. The Minister has given a commitment in this House that, should funds become available within his Department, he will make extra funds available this year. The 1986 programme is organised so that, should extra resources become available, we can revert rapidly to the full round of arrangements. The programme for 1987 which has already been submitted to the Department of Finance is costing £33.39 million. We have asked them to provide this amount. If we receive this amount it will bring us well up to what we promised in the national plan.
Is the Minister of State aware that there is a cut of £4.5 million, that £29 million was spent last year and only £24.5 million will be spent this year. A simple subtraction will give a £4.5 million cutback. The Minister of State should give a commitment that there will be a full round and an increased allocation which was committed in the national plan for this eradication programme.
I am not in a position to give that commitment but the Minister indicated in his Estimates speech that, should funds become available, TB eradication would get priority. At present, there is concentration on the high risk areas of Counties Cork, Clare, Tipperary, Westmeath and Longford.
A Cheann Comhairle——
In fairness, we should move on to Deputy Kirk's question.
I want to ask the Minister of State if he will give a commitment that a full round will be carried out this year.
I cannot give that commitment.
In view of the unsatisfactory response, I would like to raise this matter on the Adjournment at an appropriate date.
Is the Deputy requesting it for today?
No.
The Deputy will have to raise it again as we only deal with one day at a time under that heading.