Vol. 458 No. 4
70 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the investigations, if any, of the sources that may be responsible for the spread of TB among our national herd, the results of these investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16944/95]
Every infective TB herd breakdown is the subject of a full epidemiological investigation. The principal sources of disease for primary herd breakdowns include infection from bought in cattle, lateral spread from neighbouring cattle and infected wildlife.
Results of these epidemiological investigations are collated by my Department and are applied towards improving the efficiency of the programme of eradication.
71 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total amount of moneys spent on the TB eradication scheme from 1954 to date in 1995; the levels of TB in our national herd since the scheme was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/95]
The total net Exchequer cost of the bovine TB and brucellosis eradication programmes from 1954 to 1995 is estimated at £647 million (gross cost of £1,000 million less receipts of £353 million).
In the early years of TB eradication the animal disease incidence was in excess of 30 per cent. At present it is about 0.5 per cent.
