Vol. 529 No. 1
357 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of BSE carcasses buried in County Louth; the location of burial sites; the amount of compensation paid in this regard; the number of herds affected; the number of herds slaughtered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30576/00]
Since 1992 there have been ten cases of BSE in ten herds in County Louth and in each case the BSE affected animal was buried on the farm, as per procedures at that time. The number of animals depopulated in these herds was 1,553 with the total compensation issued amounting to £1,171,414.
As I have already previously indicated, I do not consider it appropriate to publish the precise locations of burial sites in each county, which would entail the publication of the name and address of every farmer in whose herd a BSE suspect animal was found. As such material will identify the name and address of every farmer in the county in whose herd a BSE suspect animal was found, its public release could have various repercussions, both for the persons in question and in a wider context. From a BSE control perspective, it could discourage farmers from reporting BSE suspect animals, thereby undermining the national effort to safeguard public and animal health and contain and eliminate the disease from the national herd. I am, however, prepared to make available on a confidential basis, and at the request of each county manager, the locations of burials in the relevant count, for the purpose of facilitating local authorities in allaying local concerns which in this context might be addressed to them. The information is being released on an ongoing basis to those county managers who have requested it.
