Bernard J. Durkan
Question:67 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in regard to the elimination of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14188/02]
Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.
The initial policy when the bovine tuberculosis scheme was introduced in 1954 was to eradicate bovine TB from cattle herds and this still remains the objective. Significant progress was made in the earlier stages of the scheme but the progress has stalled at a relatively low level of the disease.
Given the experience in the past 30 years there is a recognition that the incidence of the disease in wildlife is a major impediment and that further technological advances will be needed to achieve further progress. Important short-term objectives are to ensure that the incidence of the disease is reduced to the minimum level attainable so that markets, in particular export markets, are not jeopardised and so that there is no serious threat to human life.
In the context of the PPF, a package of measures was agreed with the objective of reducing the incidence of TB by 50% over the four years of the programme. The number of reactors being disclosed has been declining since 1999 and this downward trend continued in 2001. The number of TB reactors for the year at less than 34,000 represents a decrease of 15% and 24% respectively on the corresponding reactor figures for 2000 and 1999.
Significant progress was made in the initial stages of the brucellosis eradication programme and Ireland was officially declared brucellosis free in 1986. Unfortunately, the disease was not fully eradicated at the time and significant num bers of reactors were disclosed in the following years resulting in ongoing depopulations of herds. There was a further deterioration in the disease level from 1996 and consequently a series of measures were introduced during 1997 and subsequent years to seek to address the problem.
The full impact of the measures is being kept under review but significant progress has been made since 1998. During 2001 some 3,142 reactor animals were identified compared with 3,729 in 2000, 4,545 in 1999 and 6,417 in 1998. The 2001 figure represents a 51% decrease on the 1998 figure. The number of newly restricted herds has fallen from 1,081 in 1998 to 553 in 2001, a 49% decrease. It is anticipated that the improvement shown in recent years will continue in the coming years but at a slower rate as the incidence of the disease continues to fall. It is expected that if current control measures are maintained, eradication of the disease will be achieved.