Vol. 517 No. 3
50 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if extra staff are being employed by his Department to reduce the badger population as a means of controlling levels of bovine tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9678/00]
In the context of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, PPF, the Government has agreed to commit staff resources to each district veterinary office to carry out investigative work into the causes of TB breakdowns in herds and to undertake additional research work into the role played by wildlife, in particular badgers, in relation to the spread of bovine TB. The additional research will complement existing research work by taking a more proactive approach using 75 dedicated departmental and farm relief service personnel with a view to the removal of all sources of infection in the 20% of the country which yields some 50% of current TB reactors.
The detail of these measures will be finalised with the farming and veterinary bodies in the context of the animal health forum and in consultation with the Department of Finance.
