asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will set up a pilot scheme including special veterinary and special animal grants in north County Clare where there are 1,200 herds and a disease prevalence of over 12 per cent as herdowners have suffered continuous hardship since the tuberculosis scheme was initiated in the fifties and the scourge has never been eliminated.
Written Answers. - Bovine Tuberculosis.
25.
I am aware of the difficulties being faced by farmers in north Clare and I have in fact met a deputation from the area only last week.
The comprehensive eradication strategy which I recently announced as part of the ERAD restructured TB scheme entails the adoption of special measures for blackspot areas like north Clare. These include the biannual testing of all herds, the removal as reactors of all standard inconclusives and full herd premovement test paid for by ERAD. In addition the introduction of new supports to the eradication effort will undoubtedly strengthen the disease programme in north Clare. These include a revised reactor grant structure, the institution of a national reactor collection service and revised procedures for checking of cattle identity documentation at meat plants.
At present very substantial resources are being directed to tackle the disease problem in County Clare and this will continue as funding for ERAD at existing levels has been guaranteed by the Government for the four years of the ERAD programme.
26.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, having regard to the fact that the issue of bovine TB is a matter of widespread concern, if he will appoint a representative of wildlife interests to ERAD, as was done in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There is already an agreement between ERAD and the Wildlife Service covering the procedures and extent of investigations into the link between badgers and TB. The Wildlife Service also co-operated with Professor O'Connor of the ESRI in his recent review, "Badgers and Bovine Tuberculosis in Ireland", which will be published shortly. The very close liaison and working arrangements established between the two organisations will be maintained and in the circumstances I do not consider it necessary to appoint a representative of wildlife interests to the ERAD Board.