The East Offaly Project which was established in 1989 demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of tuberculosis breakdown following badger removal. However, it was felt that these findings could not be assumed to hold true for other landscape types and farming practices throughout the country. A research trial was agreed with the Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to confirm the involvement of badgers in the spread of bovine tuberculosis in a varied sample of national situations. The areas involved are parts of counties Donegal, Monaghan, Kilkenny and Cork and it is not possible at this stage to estimate the number of badgers that will be involved.
The laboratory at Abbotstown as well as other regional veterinary laboratories are involved in the examination of the badgers. The estimated additional cost of the project is £180,000 and this will be borne by my Department's vote which is the sole source of funding. This is a major biological project which will yield information on the involvement of badgers in bovine tuberculosis. There are also a number of sub-projects which will avail of the information collected, increasing our knowledge of the ecology and habitat of the badger. The project is also being used as part of separate vaccine development work.
