Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 19 Apr 1978

Vol. 305 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sheep Scab.

14.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied with the progress of the sheep scab eradication scheme.

15.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the increase in the incidence of sheep scab since the change of the dipping period from June to October.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. It has been established that the mite which causes sheep scab does not generally become active until the late autumn and winter months and that the only way to control or eradicate the disease is to dip all sheep during those months. For that reason the Sheep Dipping Order, 1965, which originally required dipping to be carried out twice each year—in summer and autumn—was amended in 1976 to provide for a single annual dipping between 15 September and 31 January.

While 96 outbreaks of the disease were reported to my Department in 1977 compared with 61 in 1976, I do not accept that this indicates an increased incidence of the disease in our flocks. Rather do I regard it as an increased awareness of the importance of bringing outbreaks to official notice so that urgent remedial action can be taken, and this I attribute to the renewed campaign to get rid of sheep scab launched in 1976 by the local authorities who are responsible for the implementation of the Sheep Dipping Order.

Sheep scab can be finally eradicated only if all sheep are dipped annually in an approved dip as prescribed under the Order. Returns showing the number dipped in the 1977/78 season are not yet to hand from all local authorities, but the returns for the previous season indicated that approximately 74 per cent of the national flock was dipped in that year. I will not be satisfied until there is full compliance with the Order, and my Department are continuing their efforts to achieve this.

Is the Minister aware that efforts to eradicate sheep scab have been going on for perhaps 30 years and we seem to be no nearer to eradicating it now than we were when the scheme was started? Is he satisfied that local authorities are the appropriate bodies to be responsible for this matter? As a result of the change to winter dipping, has there been any increased scrutiny as to whether these inspections are taking place as it was indicated they would at the time? Is any check carried out by the veterinary service of the Minister's Department at sheep slaughtering plants as to the incidence of scab in sheep which are slaughtered and the areas for which infected animals are coming?

I am not satisfied that progress is not being made. Progress has been made since this order was introduced. There is a new awareness of the disease. That is good in itself. It has been represented from time to time, mainly by county councils, that the Department should take full responsibility for the implementation of this sheep dipping order. The Department must observe priorities in the allocation of moneys and staff resources available for the work of animal disease eradication. At present the eradication of TB and brucellosis must be the main priority.

Is the Minister aware that if sheep were tagged for identification or if some type of dye were used in the wool that would be the answer to the problem?

In view of the fact that there has been an increase in outbreaks of sheep scab from 61 to 96, is that not a clear indication that changing the dipping season was a failure? As was pointed out by Deputy Bruton, for a long time we have been trying to eradicate this disease.

Questions should not contain argument.

Does the Minister accept that we are going backwards instead of forwards in the eradication of sheep scab? The evidence is there.

I do not think that is so.

The evidence is in front of the Minister.

There is a new awareness of this disease.

I do not accept that.

The reason why the dips are held at that time of the year is that the mite which causes the scab comes alive at that time of the year. This is being done on the recommendation of the Animal Health Council.

Will the Minister state what was the increase in the past number of years?

These are all separate questions.

Will the Minister consider some better means of identifying whether an animal has been dipped? Will he answer the question I asked him previously about the inspection of carcases in factories? Will he consider launching a national publicity campaign coinciding with the dipping season to point out to farmers that they are losing money if they fail to dip?

The inspection carried out at factories is a separate question. I have no information on it. The other suggestions made by the Deputy can be followed up. We are all very concerned to ensure that this disease will be eradicated as soon as possible. Any worth while suggestion will be followed up by my Department.

Two years ago a regulation was made that an inspector must be appointed. That has been done in my county where there is no possibility of anybody escaping because the local authority have inspectors all over the place to ensure that the sheep are all dipped. On various occasions I raised in this House the changing of the date of the dipping and I was informed that the veterinary staff in the Department of Agriculture——

Is the Deputy asking a question?

Everybody dips early in the year because he has to dip for maggots. If you want to dip against scab you have to dip in the fall of the year. Will the Minister ensure that no stock or rams carrying scab are sent out from the Department as happened in my county two years ago?

That is a separate question.

Is it not a fact that the Department now insist that all Department rams are dipped before they are sent out?

After I raised the matter here.

I do not mind who gets credit for it so long as the right thing is done.

I am not looking for credit.

Barr
Roinn