asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider utilising the system of vaccination of badgers against tuberculosis which is being field-tested in two areas of County Cork and in parts of Europe, which appears to be successful; if he will give (1) the amount of testing which has been carried out in this country (2) the length of time this has been in operation and (3) the amount of money this method of control will cost, should it be instituted on a countryside basis; if he will make a statement on the proposed methods of extermination of badgers by ERAD; and if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) commissioned by the British Minister of Agriculture.
Written Answers. - ERAD Badger Policy.
113.
I am advised by the Director of ERAD that a research project which is being funded in part by ERAD to assess the efficacy of a badger vaccine which commenced in June 1988 is scheduled to continue for five years. No results are available from the project to date but a full evaluation will be made in due course. ERAD is not aware of any other trials being carried out in Europe on badger vaccination against bovine tuberculosis.
With regard to ERAD's policy on badgers and bovine tuberculosis I have already made a statement on this matter on 21 November 1989.
Finally the Director of ERAD assures me that published reports on all aspects of bovine tuberculosis including the report commissioned by the British Minister for Agriculture are examined and evaluated by ERAD.