Vol. 490 No. 7
117 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has satisfied himself with the accuracy of the brucellosis blood test; and the percentage of female animals which pass the test but subsequently abort shortly afterwards. [10985/98]
The range of blood tests available for brucellosis are the best avilable internationally and adequately identify infection in bovine animals. However, in the case of pregnant females there is an unquantifiable level of false negatives and herdowners who purchase such animals are strongly advised to isolate them and not to introduce them to the rest of the herd until they have passed a post calving test.
Statistics are not available on the number of female animals that abort having previously proven negative to a blood test.
118 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reduction, if any, made to the milk levies as they apply to the disease eradication scheme, in particular to the introduction of the payment by farmers for the TB and brucellosis schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10986/98]
Against the background of increased blood testing under the remedial measures introduced by me on 23 February 1998 to combat the deteriorating brucellosis situation, I will be making proposals to Government shortly and if approved, thereafter to the Houses of the Oireachtas to reduce the current bovine diseases levies rates to partially offset the increased costs placed on herdowners in meeting the additional blood testing regime.
119 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider the expansion of the blood testing facilities at the laboratory in Sligo; the volume of blood tests being processed in Sligo; the capacity of the present system; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that farmers are dissatisfied with the time element in getting the results of these tests from the laboratory in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10987/98]
The existing facilities at the Sligo laboratory are relatively limited and inefficient but they facilitate a quick turn-around of results for those engaged in the export trade of female cattle. While it is not proposed to upgrade the facilities at the laboratory, it is my intention to maintain the current arrangements for the medium term. Arrangements are under way to assign replacement staff to the laboratory when temporary vacancies occur in June. Currently some 200 blood tests per day are processed in the Sligo laboratory.
Some delays have been experienced in the brucellosis laboratory in Cork due to the huge number of samples received relative to previous years. A number of additional staff have been assigned to the laboratory in the past month and samples are now being processed more quickly.
