Trevor Sargent
Question:232 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the Government's policy regarding the proposal for a bovine testing station near Ballina, County Mayo. [15437/02]
Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.
Jerry Cowley
Question:248 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of knackeries which have been established under the European Communities (Knackery) Regulations, 1996; the number of these which are engaged in the removal of tissue from fallen animals for analysis to determine the nature of infection and a safe method of disposal; the plans his Department has for the siting of such a knackery in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Jerry Cowley
Question:249 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of bovine testing or inspection units for fallen animals which have been established under current legislation here; the function of these units; the location of bovine testing and inspection units throughout the country; the guidance which his Department has issued regarding the siting of these units; the procedures in place for the disposal of BSE fallen animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Jerry Cowley
Question:252 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the incidence of BSE fallen animals for the country as a whole for each year from 1998 to the present; the incidence of BSE fallen animals in County Mayo for the same period; the incidence of BSE fallen animals in County Sligo for the same period; the location to which fallen animals from within County Mayo and County Sligo are taken for BSE tissue testing and disposal; the guidelines his Department has issued concerning the control of infection in and around BSE testing facilities and the risk of environmental pollution; if a grant application has been received by his Department for the provision of a knackery or bovine inspection facility within County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 232, 248, 249 and 252 together.
I presume the questions relate to licensed knackery premises, which are premises licensed for the collection and disposal of fallen animals generally, that is, animals which die on farms. Such premises are operated and approved in accordance with the provisions of S.I. No. 396/1996 European Community (Knackery) Regulations, 1996 and the planning laws. Appli cations for approval as licensed knackeries whether in Mayo or elsewhere are considered subject to the criteria laid down in the relevant legislation and the planning laws.
There are currently 45 licensed knackeries located in counties Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford. Counties Mayo and Sligo are serviced by fallen animal collectors based in Meath, Cavan, Galway and Roscommon. Samples are taken for BSE testing at 35 of the 45 licensed knackeries. The remaining ten licensed premises do not collect bovines over 24 months and there fore samples are not taken at these premises. Testing of samples takes place at approved laboratories in County Kildare and, if necessary, at the Department's laboratory in Abbotstown.
An application for grant aid under the NDP knackery capital grants scheme has been received from an applicant in County Mayo.
A targeted active surveillance programme for BSE began in autumn 2000. This included the testing of a proportion of fallen bovines at licensed knackery premises. The programme was extended in July 2001 to include the sampling of all fallen bovines over 24 months of age for BSE. Prior to this, fallen animals were not tested for BSE. The number of BSE cases identified in the fallen animal cohort is as follows:
|
Year |
Nos. Tested |
Nos. Positive cases |
Mayo Cases |
Sligo Cases |
|
2000 |
550 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
|
2001 |
24,614 |
81 |
5 |
1 |
|
2002 (to date) |
59,961 |
146 |
4 |
5 |
Detailed safety guidelines have issued to all personnel working in knackeries and I will arrange to have the Deputy provided with a copy. BSE positive animals are currently kept in cold storage, as there is no immediately available alternative for disposal of such carcasses.