Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

217 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action, if any, he will take to alleviate difficulties experienced by farmers as a result of the delay in test results being issued to herd owners for the enforced brucellosis testing regime; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, although the Department guaranteed to have results returned ten to 14 days after the blood sample was taken, in some cases results have not been returned until 27 days after testing; if he will extend the test from 30 days to 60 days in view of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16106/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I am aware that some delays were experienced earlier in the year in processing samples in the brucellosis laboratory in Cork, due in the main to the huge number of samples received relative to previous years. In order to cope with the additional workload additional resources were assigned to and new procedures were introduced at the Cork laboratory. These ensure that processing of blood samples can be commenced as they are received in the laboratory and a more rapid turnaround of samples is now being achieved.

The arrangements that have been introduced are deemed essential to address the current brucellosis problem. Consequently, I have no plans at this stage to extend the test validity period from 30 days to 60 days.