Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 19 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 10

Written Answers. - TB Testing Investigation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

98 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an animal in the herd of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare which was deemed in January 1991, following a TB test to be inconclusive was not tested again until October 1991, during which period the entire herd was locked up causing (1) financial loss to the herd owner and (2) continued infection risk to the rest of the herd and illustrated a poor attempt at disease eradication and where there was a failure to disclose if active lesions were found on the animal; if he intends to have the matter investigated with a view to payment of full market value of the animal as determined by sale of corresponding animals in the open market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Dr. Woods)

I am informed by the director of ERAD that a special check test carried out on the herd in question on 1 February 1991 revealed one inconclusive animal. In such circumstances the herdowner is advised that the inconclusive animal should be retested after 60 days. In addition, while the herd is not restricted, the cattle identity cards are retained by the local office in order to monitor movement. The herdowner may, depending on circumstances, be given cards on request to the local office.

Due to an oversight the herd was not retested until October 1991 and the same animal was again inconclusive which under the ERAD scheme meant that it was deemed a reactor and the herd was restricted. The post mortem result indicated no visible lesions but this does not in any way mean that the animal was not infected.

In relation to reactor grants I understand that the herdowner has been paid the grant in respect of this animal. The reactor grant is designed to bridge the difference between the slaughter price and the cost of an equivalent replacement animal.

The herd in question passed a reactor retest on 6 December 1991 and it may regain its clear status if it passes a second reactor retest after 60 days from that date.