Vol. 536 No. 3
159 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of animals slaughtered in each county in the course of foot and mouth disease prevention measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/01]
The number of animals slaughtered on a county by county basis in the course of foot and mouth disease prevention is as follows:
|
Cattle |
Sheep |
Pigs |
Goats |
Deer |
|
|
County Louth |
1,023 |
48,744 |
2908 |
166 |
280 |
|
County Monaghan |
1,164 |
1 |
|||
|
County Meath |
25 |
792 |
|||
|
County Mayo |
308 |
||||
|
County Roscommon |
176 |
||||
|
County Wexford |
163 |
1,446 |
11 |
||
|
County Carlow |
53 |
1,075 |
|||
|
County Laois |
155 |
200 |
|||
|
County Kildare |
54 |
||||
|
County Tipperary |
89 |
||||
|
County Leitrim |
77 |
||||
|
Total |
1,562 |
53,982 |
2,919 |
167 |
280 |
160 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the extent to which his Department has identified persons or establishments involved in activities which posed a threat in the course of the foot and mouth outbreak; if his Department has studied the various movements of animals and other practices likely to have contributed to extending the threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14322/01]
Since the foot and mouth disease crisis began in February last, my Department has been engaged in a range of investigations involving both persons and premises as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. These investigations, many of which have been undertaken in conjunction with the Garda, have encompassed traceback operations linked to suspect or illegally imported animals, follow-up inquiries to information obtained by the Department from a variety of sources or given to it in confidence and probes undertaken by the Department where it has identified concerns which have warranted further scrutiny. Many of these investigations are ongoing and may result in prosecutions being initiated. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this juncture.
On a more general level, it is my intention that my Department in due course generally review the foot and mouth disease experience with a view to identifying and putting in place the measures which doubtless will be necessary in several areas where particular concerns have come to light.
