Edward Nealon
Ceist:72 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the estimated total badger population in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. [14735/95]
Written Answers. - Badger Population.
Edward Nealon
Ceist:73 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the research, if any, his Department is involved in to develop a vaccine for use on the badger population to prevent the spread of TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14736/95]
Edward Nealon
Ceist:74 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the new measures, if any, he intends to introduce to control the badger population in view of the findings in the interim report on the East Offaly Badger Research Project released by the TB Investigation Unit, University College Dublin: the other initiatives, if any, he plans to tackle the problem underlined in the findings of the report which directly links the badger with TB in the cattle herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14737/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 73 and 74 together.
It is estimated that there are approximately 200,000 badgers in Ireland and approximately 50,000 badgers in Northern Ireland. A publication entitled Badger & Habitat Survey of Ireland which is due to be launched shortly, will provide, inter alia, specific details on badger numbers, setts, social groupings, density and distribution.
An interim report of the East Offaly Badger Project is due to be published shortly and its findings will be considered as part of the revised arrangements for the bovine TB eradication programme which are currently the subject of discussions with the farming organisations.
The development of a badger vaccine is being actively pursued. My Department has been funding research on badger bait delivery systems for a number of years and EU funding has been sought for work on the development of a vaccine for badgers which it is envisaged would be undertaken on a collaborative basis with other countries in the near future.