Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Feb 1999

Vol. 501 No. 1

Written Answers. - Bovine Diseases.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

43 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of herds affected by tuberculosis in 1998 compared with 1997; the work under way in his Department to eradicate tuberculosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5254/99]

Michael Ferris

Ceist:

61 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of herds affected by brucellosis in 1998 compared with 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5253/99]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

74 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of herds affected with tuberculosis and brucellosis in 1998; the number of reactors; the number of depopulated herds for each district veterinary office in this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5266/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 61 and 74 together.

The bovine tuberculosis level tends to be cyclical and the 1997 level was the lowest recorded for many years. Unfortunately, the rate of disclosure of TB reactors was higher in 1998 than in recent years. A detailed review of the reasons for the increased level is being undertaken and the results will be discussed with the farming bodies-veterinary groups on a scientific sub-group of the Animal Health Forum shortly. Any proposals for additional measures will be considered by the full Animal Health Forum at an early date.

Research projects including the specialised work of the TB investigation unit are continuing with the aim of providing new technologies required to eradicate TB. The research is focused in particular on the role of the badger as well as establishing the best possible information on the causes of the disease spread.

The level of brucellosis has also been a matter for concern. In relation to the current situation and in consultation with the Animal Health Forum a number of new measures have been introduced to combat the disease which are as follows: from 23 February 1998 all female cattle and bulls over 12 months of age being moved into or out of holdings, other than direct to a slaughter premises must have passed a blood test within 30 days preceding the date of movement; from the same date, bulls over 12 months and female cattle over 18 months of age may not be sold more than once, whether by public or private sale on foot of a brucellosis test and such cattle being sold must be moved from the holding where tests are undertaken directly to either the purchaser's holding or directly to a mart and from there directly to the purchaser's holding; blood testing for all eligible cattle to augment and complement existing arrangements including monthly milk ring testing; revamped administrative procedures in my Department's local offices to deal more effectively with herds with burcellosis reactors and those contiguous to such herds; arrangements to speed up the completion of blood tests and the improved notification of results; early removal of reactors and steps to improve detection of irregularities; an awareness/advisory campaign to update farmers and others on farm husbandry and management practices to curtail the spread of brucellosis; and a restructured and revamped compensation regime.

The arrangements being applied for both TB and brucellosis for 1999 will be kept under review in consultation with the Animal Health Forum.

The number of herds affected by TB and brucellosis at 31 December 1997 and 31 December 1998 and the number of reactors, and depopulations by DVO in 1998 are set out in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

TB	Herds1997	Herds1998	Reactors1998	Brucellosis	Herds1997	Herds1998	Reactors1998	Depops.1998
4,111	5,513	44,498	*292	*383	**6,417	328

*Herds restricted under EU regulations.

**In addition to this figure a further 20,170 in-contacts were also removed under depopulations, etc.

The number of depopulations in respect of TB is currently being compiled and will be forwarded in due course.

The number of herds depopulated in respect of brucellosis in 1998 is as follows:

Brucellosis Depopulations 1998.

Carlow	0	Longford	0
Cavan	4	Louth	0
Clare	3	Mayo	2
Cork Nth	18	Meath	2
Cork South	29	Monaghan	15
Donegal	0	Offaly	13
Dublin-Wicklow E	1	Roscommon	4
Galway	4	Sligo	0
Kerry	69	Tipperary Sth.	13
Kildare-Wicklow W	4	Tipperary Nth.	36
Kilkenny	2	Waterford	0
Laois	12	Wexford	0
Leitrim	0	Westmeath	9
Limerick	88