The answer is "No". The practice is that herd-owners themselves pay the charge for dressing their cattle. The benefits accruing to them from the eradication of the warble fly far outweigh the cost involved. Expenditure by my Department is limited to certain promotional costs and a contribution towards the cost of supervision in the field by the AI bodies that operate the service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Warble Fly Eradication Scheme.
16. Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his Department will pay the full cost for dressing cattle under the warble fly eradication scheme.
Will this be the last year that farmers will be expected to dress their cattle and pay for it?
Farmers will be expected to dress their cattle as long as the warble fly infestation holds. The cost of dressing each animal at present is 28p.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think that this year's warble dressing will be sufficient to eliminate the warble fly?
No, I have not yet definite information on that.
Question No. 17.
We did not get an answer to Question No. 15.
The Deputy did and the subsidy was specifically given for the second half of 1974 only and there is no arrangement for its continuance in 1975.
Question No. 17.