Vol. 481 No. 1
24 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the incidence of brucellosis and tuberculosis per county in tests up to 31 December 1996; the action, if any, his Department in conjunction with farming and veterinary associations is taking to eradicate these diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15504/97]
Part of the reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
The new arrangements for the TB and brucellosis eradication programmes introduced in 1996 are designed to enhance the overall effectiveness of the eradication schemes and provide for the orderly annual testing of the national herd and a comprehensive research programme.
In relation to the current brucellosis situation and in consultation with the Animal Health Forum, I recently announced several measures to deal with the matter including the arrangements for milk ring testing on a monthly basis; a compulsory requirement that all eligible animals being sold through marts and from farm to farm must have been blood tested within the previous 12 months; an awareness/education programme directed specifically at farmers which will focus principally on promoting effective herd management and health protection practices; detailed epidemiological investigations by my Department's veterinary inspectors into brucellosis breakdowns and a major revamping of the compensation regime aimed at encouraging farmers to purchase premovement tested eligible cattle from reliable sources. Advice packages on herd protection and revised grant arrangement measures have recently been issued to all herdowners.
TB and Brucellosis Herd Incidence at December 1996
|
County |
TB 1996 |
*Brucellosis 1996 |
|
Carlow |
53 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
239 |
2 |
|
Clare |
183 |
42 |
|
Cork North |
351 |
36 |
|
Cork South |
382 |
8 |
|
Donegal |
52 |
0 |
|
Dublin |
32 |
0 |
|
Galway |
202 |
3 |
|
Kerry |
175 |
56 |
|
Kildare |
95 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
149 |
2 |
|
Laois |
69 |
10 |
|
Leitrim |
31 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
245 |
58 |
|
Longford |
72 |
2 |
|
Louth |
120 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
76 |
1 |
|
Meath |
297 |
9 |
|
Monaghan |
280 |
6 |
|
Offaly |
82 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
135 |
7 |
|
Sligo |
65 |
1 |
|
Tipperary South |
143 |
24 |
|
Tipperary North |
126 |
12 |
|
Waterford |
98 |
5 |
|
Westmeath |
104 |
2 |
|
Wexford |
166 |
6 |
|
Wicklow East |
106 |
0 |
|
Wicklow West |
29 |
0 |
|
Total |
4,157 |
296 |
