Frank Crowley
Question:30 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when he intends to draw down the EC funding for the TB eradication scheme to improve the scheme and to alleviate hardship to farmers.
Written Answers. - Bovine TB Eradication Programme.
Michael McDowell
Question:40 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the present position regarding proposed £60 million EC funding towards cost of the Bovine TB Eradication scheme.
Liz O'Donnell
Question:55 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the present position regarding proposed £60 million EC funding towards cost of the Bovine TB Eradication scheme.
Peadar Clohessy
Question:81 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he was for a fully coherent four year bovine TB eradication programme.
Desmond J. O'Malley
Question:85 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the present position regarding proposed £60 million EC funding towards cost of the Bovine TB Eradication scheme.
Peter Barry
Question:143 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the impact the loss of the proposed TB eradication scheme will have on this country; if it will impinge on our cattle exports; the impact on farmers which would ensure from our inability to reduce the disease levy by 30 per cent; if the overall impact on the farming community, as a result, is seen as serious; if so, if he will give details of the Government's proposals, if any, in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Jim Higgins
Question:144 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will sanction payment of the full replacement value for stock removed from herds as TB reactors; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Peter Barry
Question:145 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the success rate it is hoped to attain from the new TB bovine eradication scheme due to start in March 1993; the way in which this campaign will be different from all the others since their introduction in the early 1960s; the amount it is proposed to spend on the scheme; if the proposed scheme is designed to eliminate TB in cattle; the way in which our eradication schemes compare with our European partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ivan Yates
Question:146 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether all aspects of the TB forum recommendation will be implemented.
Ivan Yates
Question:147 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if final agreement has been reached with the EC authorities in order to obtain the necessary promised finance for the future TB eradication schemes over the years from 1993 to 1996.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:171 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself that the current proposals in respect of Bovine TB eradication will have the desired effect; if this will meet the guidelines set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 40, 55, 81, 85, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147 and 171 together.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to implement a coherent four year bovine TB eradication programme with the support of Community funding and subject to the conditions attaching to those funds. Agreement was reached with the EC Commission in regard to the relevant conditions in October 1992 which included testing under contract by private practitioners and changed arrangements and stricter interpretation in respect of pre-movement testing. However, because of budgetary limits on the EC veterinary fund delays have arisen in having the programme approved for Community funding. I am pressing for an immediate increase in the level of the EC veterinary fund to enable appropriate support to be made available. The draw down of EC funding will facilitate the introduction of a number of additional elements to the programme and a reduction in disease levies. Meanwhile, I have recently introduced a reduction of some £2 million in disease levies paid by farmers.
A sum of £43.5 million has been allocated in the Book of Estimates to cover the running costs of the programme for 1993. The exact format of the programme including grant structure of this year's scheme will bw determined by the timing of the availability of EC funding. However, the intention is to have a full round of testing in 1993 and this is proceeding smoothly. Where reactors are identified and removed, the reactor grant system bridges the gap between salvage price of the reactor and the replacement cost of the animal. Reactor grants are adjusted periodically in line with changes in market prices.
Most of our EC partners have progressed their eradication programme to an advanced stage. The broad format of our eradication scheme is similar to those operative in other EC countries and is more than sufficient to protect our trading position.