Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 1

Written Answers. - BSE Outbreaks.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

48 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of BSE cases detected in the State to date in 1997; the number of cattle slaughtered as a result; the investigations, if any, which have been held in the source of the BSE recently detected in a Teagasc herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15400/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

BSE has been detected on 55 farms to the end of September 1997. These outbreaks have involved the slaughter of 6,607 animals in the relevant herds. An exhaustive epidemiological investigation is currently being carried out on the Teagasc farm to determine the source of the infection. The investigation has not yet concluded.