asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will detail the progress of the Brucellosis Eradication Scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Eradication Scheme.
19.
Full-scale eradication of brucellosis—that is, blood testing of each herd followed by slaughter of reactors—was started in County Donegal in May, 1966. The county was declared brucellosis-free in June, 1968, and animals from clear herds in the area have now full brucellosis-free status. Testing commenced in Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo in December, 1966, and I would hope to be able to declare these counties brucellosis-free when the round of testing now in progress is completed by the end of the year.
The building of an extension to the brucellosis blood testing laboratory necessary for any extension of eradication measures is now virtually completed.
Preliminary measures have been taken in other areas. The calfhood vaccination scheme was introduced in 11 counties, including the main dairying counties, in June, 1965, and by November, 1967, when it was suspended because of the foot and mouth emergency, nearly 600,000 calves had been vaccinated with Strain 19 against the disease. This has now been replaced by the heifer vaccination scheme, which came into operation last March in approximately the same area. In this scheme, the recently developed 45/20 killed vaccine is used, and two injections of the vaccine are given. The use of Strain 19 has been discontinued. So far, 109,000 animals have received their first injection under the scheme.
In addition, the brucellosis (certified) herds scheme has been available throughout the country to herdowners who might wish to clear their herds in advance of the general measures.
At present, a herdowner whose herd is affected with brucellosis has no redress. Herdowners who reported their herds and endeavoured to co-operate with the Department and to ensure that neighbouring herds would not be cantaminated got little or no satisfaction.
Where was this?
Cork.
What area?
Cork south-west. Surely the Minister will agree that the herdowner who co-operates fully with the Departmental instructions not to take his affected animals to a local market place; to confine them; to get veterinary advice and to do all the things asked of him in Departmental circulars, surely he should be entitled to some consideration?
He will get fair consideration — at least within the scope of what is payable at the moment. In the latter part of the reply I have just given — that is, in relation to the brucellosis (certified) herds scheme — any man outside the areas I have mentioned where we have started the scheme proper who wishes to get on with the eradication of brucellosis will be facilitated. After he has done a little bit for himself in such circumstances, we will then come in and do the final two tests free and any reactors found will be taken up and compensated for in the normal way as applies in areas of eradication where we are operating. The point must surely get home to some of these people that only five herds in the entire country, outside the test areas, have made any attempt to avail of this very useful scheme to date and this is most disappointing.
Question No. 20.
Can the Minister say what steps have been taken to publicise the scheme? I know at least five herdowners who are anxious and willing to co-operate with the Department and who have suffered extensively as a result of brucellosis, who have to do away with their herds and have nothing to engage in——
The Deputy may not make a speech on this question.
I am asking a question.
The Deputy has made two speeches.
Herdowners whose cattle have had the disease and who had to have them wiped out are advised to give their land a rest for two or three years as far as cattle raising is concerned and surely such people are entitled to some consideration?
We cannot debate this question all evening. We have a large number of questions on the Order Paper.
In view of the lack of co-operation on the part of the Department——
Deputy Murphy may not discuss this question at length. He has been allowed a good deal of leeway. Deputy Dr. Byrne.
This is an important question into which I have put a lot of work and industry in order to get redress for the people concerned. If you were a small farmer with 12 or 13 cows and your herd was affected——
The Deputy may not debate this——
——you would know how important it is.
Order. Deputy Dr. Byrne.
I am trying to bring this matter to the notice of the Minister. I am trying to be helpful. I am not condemning the Minister because one cannot expect him to know everything that happens——
Explain it to the people at the by-election.
Would the Minister state whether the extremely high incidence of brucellosis among members of the veterinary profession who are working for the Department on the eradication scheme has interfered with the efficiency of brucellosis eradication?
Interfered with what?
With the efficiency of the brucellosis eradication scheme. Has the high incidence of brucellosis among the veterinary profession interfered with the efficiency of the scheme?
I am afraid the whole thing has rather gone over me. I want to get back to Deputy Murphy who has a problem about this matter. The scheme I mentioned was announced, and has been available continuously, since June, 1965. I have no doubt that anybody who has had the misfortune to have had any incidence of brucellosis in his herd, let it be large or small, must, unless he was in complete isolation, have become aware through concern for his herd——
There is no provision for compensation.
He could not avoid being aware since 1965 that there is a way in which he can help himself before the State will have got around to doing a complete eradication scheme, as we are doing at the moment.
Is there any system of compensation?
I am calling Question No. 20.
We will have more questions on this topic next week.