Vol. 533 No. 3
308 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Education and Science if compensation will be arranged by his Department in the case of a school (details supplied) which has had to cancel a school trip to France on the instruction of his Department due to foot and mouth disease with the result that deposits have been retained by the travel agent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8561/01]
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease has the potential to cause enormous economic damage to our agriculture and food processing sectors. It would have far-reaching implications for our export markets, which would permeate through the entire economy. The full commitment of the entire population is necessary if we are to succeed in our efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. This is a national issue which has the potential to adversely affect the wellbeing of everyone in the country and our response must reflect the gravity of the situation.
My Department, based on the advice of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, has advised the authorities of all primary and post-primary schools of the recommended measures to prevent an outbreak of foot and mouth disease here. My Department continues to liaise on an ongoing basis with the Department as the situation evolves.
The current advice from my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, is that unnecessary travel to foot and mouth disease infected areas should not take place. Accordingly, I advise schools not to undertake school tours to foot and mouth disease affected areas.
The Deputy will appreciate that deposits for school trips are a matter between individual schools and their travel agents. In the circumstances, for advice on the matters raised by the Deputy, schools should make direct contact with the relevant travel agent.
