Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2013
217. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is compulsory to carry out a scrapie test on sheep over two years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24497/13]
View answerUnder EU rules my Department is obliged to have scrapie tests carried out each year on 10,000 fallen sheep and 10,000 sheep slaughtered for human consumption, over 18 months of age. In 2012, Ireland's Active Surveillance Programme involved the testing of 10,342 fallen sheep over 18 months of age at knackeries and 10,963 sheep over 18 months of age at slaughter plants.
