Vol. 496 No. 5
50 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of cattle slaughtered to date arising from the BSE scare; the amount of compensation paid in respect of slaughtered animals; the number of farmers who received compensation; and the average paid in this regard. [23101/98]
The number of animals slaughtered from 1989 to the end of October under the BSE scheme is 42,149. This figure includes animals from BSE depopulated herds, birth cohort and/or progeny animals, UK imported animals and BSE suspect and affected animals. Total compensation paid to date amounts to £29.5 million and 1,190 farmers have received compensation under these categories. A total of £11.3 million has been received from the EU in respect of compensation paid for the period 1 April 1996 to 30 September 1998. On average £700 per animal has been paid in compensation.
52 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there has been an outbreak of blue ear disease; if so, the cause of this outbreak; the action, if any, he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23226/98]
Three outbreaks of blue ear disease, also known as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, PRRS, were recently notified and confirmed in this country. A number of suspect cases are also being investigated by my Department. The source of the disease has not been definitively established, but it is the case that PRRS has already been confirmed in Northern Ireland pig herds.
PRRS is a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals (Notification of Infectious Diseases) Order, 1992. Following the recent outbreaks I supplemented that order by the Diseases of Animals (Notification of Infectious Diseases) Order, 1992, (Amendment) Order, 1998, last September. The 1998 order prohibits the movement of infected and suspect animals and animals which have been exposed to PRRS infection without movement permits issued by a veterinary inspector of my Department. In practice such animals are permitted to move only to meat plants for slaughter and special attention is in all cases given to cleansing and disinfecting vehicles which have transported the animals. I am keeping the incidence of PRRS under close review.
