Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 6

Written Answers. - TB Infected Cattle.

Bernard Allen

Question:

103 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement on an ERAD report that Cork veterinary surgeons have spotted only half the number of TB infected cattle as their Department of Agriculture and Food counterparts and that in the ERAD report, which was carried out between March 1990 and January 1991, private veterinary surgeons found only 3.41 reactors for every 1,000 animals tested while Department veterinary surgeons found 4.27 reactors per 1,000 animals; and if he will outline the action he proposes to take on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy):

ERAD's quality control strategy as applied to the 1990 testing programme indicated a potentially greater number of TB reactors than that recorded for the total national testing programme. Therefore, it is concluded that a number of reactor cattle are not being detected with the present testing regime.

The quality control results also showed a regional or county variation. The main factor giving rise to the variation appears to relate to the nature and regional distribution of the disease.

A commitment to provide some £30 million for a three year TB eradication programme has recently been received from the European Community. The Commission has attached a number of conditions to drawdown of the funding. These include changes in the arrangements for the allocation of testing, and negotiations are in progress with the Irish Veterinary Union on this issue.