Alan M. Dukes
Ceist:12 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, that has been made in securing EC funding for the Bovine TB eradication programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine TB Eradication Programme.
The EC veterinary fund is at present inadequate to meet the disease eradication programme proposals of a number of member states including this country's bovine TB eradication programme. Technical conditions under which funding could be provided were agreed with the Commission Services at the end of last year.
I am continuing to press vigorously in Council for an increase in the fund on the basis that the measures must be available to protect the highest possible health status within the Single Market.
A review of the strategy on animal health is currently being undertaken and it is hoped that the matter will be discussed at the Council of Ministers in the near future. I am hopeful that appropriate adjustments will be made to the veterinary fund which in turn will facilitate the securing of EC funding for the bovine TB programme in this country.
Does the Minister of State not feel that he is running out of threadbare excuses? It is several months since the promise was last made in this House that that funding would be available. Will the Minister of State tell us what effect this delay will have on the TB testing scheme for this year which has already begun and which must now be in jeopardy because this funding has not yet come on stream?
The present round is underway. Obviously the Department is very concerned about TB eradication. An expensive round of testing under the previous programme has proved that intensive testing is not the answer to ridding us of the residue of this disease. We are seeking extra funding for a research programme to try to come up with a vaccine for badgers. Work is underway in the Department on a computerised programme relating to the movement of animals. At the COREPER meeting on 9 June, 1990 the subject of increased veterinary funding was discussed and referred to the chief health officers meeting on 18 June and it is likely that the matter of EC funding will be discussed at the July meeting of the Council.
That is very valuable information. Could the Minister confirm that if the EC funding is not available nothing other than the round testing will take place this year? Could the Minister comment on what that would mean for the programme in the light of the comments made recently by Dr. Liam Downey on the need for progress in this area?
This Department needs no convincing as to the importance of progress in this area. Until such time as the extra funding becomes available a proper research programme cannot be undertaken. We are making every effort to ensure we get that money as quickly as possible. We are absolutely committed to the programme.
Can I take it that the Department has put all its eggs in one basket and that it has committed the absolute folly of making everything other than testing totally dependent on EC funding which it has not yet got?
In order to fund this programme as we would wish, EC funding is required.
The answer is "yes". Thank you.
We have got agreement on the programme. Our difficulty is that the fund does not have the money and we are absolutely determined to get that money.
Nothing will happen until then.
Questions No. 13, Deputy Robert Molloy. Ní fheicim an Teachta. Ar aghaidh le Cheist 14.