Vol. 521 No. 6
18 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to establish clearly defined targets for the control and ultimate eradication of tuberculosis and brucellosis in cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17671/00]
Under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, all the relevant parties have agreed to the adoption of a number of measures with the objective of reducing the current incidence of TB by 50% and of making significant progress towards the eradication of brucellosis within the next four years.
Specifically in relation to TB, it has been agreed to commit resources in each district veterinary office to carry out investigative work into the causes of herd breakdowns, to take a proactive approach to the removal of all sources of infection in each DVO area using 75 dedicated departmental and farm relief service personnel and to concentrate their efforts in the 20% of the country which yields 50% of current reactors. In addition, it was agreed that further consideration will be given to additional measures relating to movement controls and to be applied in specific areas. The details of these and other aspects of the disease eradication programme will be finalised in consultation with the farming and veterinary organisations in the animal health forum.
