While considerable progress has been made in reducing the incidence of bovine tuberculosis it has not been possible to eradicate the disease from the national herd. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that 99.5 per cent of cattle are free of TB and the scheme in place facilitates the continued trading of livestock and livestock products to EU and third countries.
TB levels tend to be cyclical and, unfortunately, the rate of disclosure of reactors was considerably higher in 1998 than preceding years, and this trend continued this year. A detailed review of the precise causes of the high level of the disease is being undertaken and the outcome of this review will be discussed shortly with the farming bodies and veterinary groups in the Animal Health Forum.
As regards research, a number of projects, including the specialised work of the TB investigation unit, are continuing with the aim of providing new technologies required to eradicate TB. The research is focused in particular on the role of wildlife, as well as establishing the best possible information on the causes of the disease spread.
The scientific community generally accepts the role of the badger in the spread of bovine tuberculosis and there is a growing body of evidence to support this opinion. Research work on this aspect is currently ongoing in the special areas, namely the east Offaly project which was initiated in 1988 and projects in parts of Donegal, Kilkenny, Cork north and Monaghan which were initiated in 1997, as well as on the development of a vaccine for possible use in wildlife. One of the purposes of removals under the projects is to demonstrate the actual level of infection in a representative sample of the badger population. Of the badgers removed in 1998 from the four new areas, 24 per cent had confirmed tuberculosis.
I do not accept that there is inadequate compensation for reactor cattle. Grants paid under the TB and brucellosis eradication schemes are intended broadly to bridge the gap between the salvage value received by the herdowner from the meat plant and the cost of a replacement commercial animal and that is what is happening generally. My Department monitors the level of grant rates on an ongoing basis.