Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 1990

Vol. 395 No. 9

Written Answers. - Disease Eradication Schemes.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

152 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of depopulated herds in County Limerick under the brucellosis eradication scheme and the bovine TB eradication scheme; the total number of animals removed by depopulation in 1989; the total amount of compensation paid to herd owners in 1989 for TB and brucellosis; the number of herds in County Limerick which have had a breakdown in brucellosis and in TB; the number of animals involved in each herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

I have been informed by the director of ERAD that in County Limerick in 1989 there were 12 herds comprising 693 animals depopulated for bovine TB and 17 herds comprising 816 animals depopulated for brucellosis. There were 520 herd restrictions for TB and 56 for brucellosis which resulted in the removal of 1,435 TB reactors and 329 brucellosis reactors.

Amounts paid for compensation relate to actual payments made in the course of each calendar year. It is not possible to relate these amounts to the actual numbers of herds depopulated or of animals removed in that year. Reactor, depopulation and income supplement grant payments which herdowners in County Limerick received in addition to the factory prices for slaughtered animals amounted to £744,475 in 1989.