Vol. 487 No. 7
210 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total number of BSE cases detected to date; the number of cases of BSE detected in the past 12 months; the total number of animals slaughtered in the past 12 months; the total number of animals slaughtered to date in 1998; the total amount paid in compensation for slaughtered animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5105/98]
There have been 276 confirmed cases of BSE to the end of January 1998, with 77 of these cases occurring in the past 12 months. These latter outbreaks have involved the slaughter of 10,329 animals in the relevant herds, of which 509 animals were slaughtered in January 1998. The total amount of compensation paid to farmers for de-population of herds is £25.5 million. Since April 1996, EU funding at the rate of 70 per cent of compensation costs is available. To date, some £9.5 million has been received under this arrangement.
