Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 7

Written Answers. - Bovine TB Transmission.

Edward Nealon

Ceist:

93 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether substantial evidence exists to show that tuberculosis-infected badgers pose a significant risk of spreading the disease amongst cattle; the plans, if any, he has to tackle the threat from badgers of infecting or re-infecting herds; the regulations, if any, within his Department for the collection of carcasses of dead badgers; and if he will make a statement on the latest research and other work that has been done in establishing the exact role of the badger in the continuing difficulty with the elimination of bovine TB in spite of the cost of the campaign. [5693/95]

Edward Nealon

Ceist:

94 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if a national survey or other form of count was undertaken within the last few years of the badger population of the country by his Department or by some other agency from which the results were received by his Department; if, in conjunction with this badger survey or count, a report on the spread of TB in the badger population was undertaken; if so, the findings of this report; and if he will make a statement on the implications of the findings for the spread of TB amongst the national cattle herd. [5694/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.

It is now widely recognised that badgers play a role in the transmission of bovine TB and there is a growing body of scientific evidence to support this opinion. This was the consensus view expressed at the Royal Irish Academy Conference on "The Badger" which was held in 1991, proceedings of which are now published, and at an international seminar held in London in November 1993 under the aegis of the British Ministery of Agriculture. In addition, a review by the Economic and Social Research Institute entitled "Badgers and Bovine TB in Ireland", published in 1989, indicates that in many areas of the country it may not be possible to control bovine TB without controlling the badger population. There is a growing evidence to support this conclusion.

The badger is a protected species under the Wildlife Act, 1976, and may be removed only under licence for research purposes, strictly in accordance with conditions specified by the Wildlife Service of the Office of Public Works. In the context of the bovine TB eradication scheme my Department applies for licences where tuberculosis infected badgers have been identified in areas with high levels of bovine TB.

While there are no regulations governing the collection of carcases of dead badgers, all reported cases are utilised in the research programme.

This Department co-funded a national badger census with the Wildlife Service. The census was completed over a four year period and the furnished report is now awaiting publication. The primary focus of the census was to determine the overall badger population.

ERAD's research is focused on the role of the badger in the spread of TB and other possible causes of disease spread. The development of a vaccine is being actively pursued. A report on the Feasibility of Developing a Vaccine against Tuberculosis for use in the Badger was published jointly by this Department and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland in June 1994. In August a World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva was held to further the development of such a vaccine and a collaborative programme has a scheduled starting date in 1995. This may be part-funded by the European Union.