Vol. 547 No. 1
292 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his proposals to meet the concerns of the Irish Farmers' Association Waterford County Animal Health Committee regarding the tuberculosis eradication scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1549/02]
The incidence of bovine TB in County Waterford is, unfortunately, above the national average and my Department is keeping this situation under close and on-going review.
Wildlife, in particular badgers, are considered by veterinary experts to be a significant constraint in addressing the TB problem at national level. In the context of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness, PPF, it was agreed that additional resources would be assigned to the removal of all sources of infection in the 20% of the country that yielded 50% of TB reactors. A number of additional staff have already been recruited by my Department for this purpose and I am arranging for some of the additional staff to be assigned to Waterford District Veterinary Office to deal with wildlife measures. It should be noted, however, that badgers can only be removed under licences issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
Deer have not generally been associated with the spread of bovine TB. However, my Department will keep the situation in County Waterford under close review in this regard.
Questions regarding reactor compensation and the financial well-being of farmers with restricted herds are aspects of disease eradication that are discussed at national level in the context of the Animal Health Advisory Forum comprising representatives of the main farm and veterinary bodies, the Department of Finance and my own Department.
293 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if tuberculosis has been detected among the deer population in the Waterford constituency; if so, the measures which have been taken to deal with the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1567/02]
Deer have not generally been associated with the spread of bovine tuberculosis. However, my Department will keep the situation in County Waterford under close review.
