Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Tuberculosis Incidence.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

204 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will make a statement on his Department's pilot project in north Cork on the role of wildlife, and in particular the badger, in the spread of tuberculosis; and if, in view of the above average incidence of tuberculosis in the Ballyvourney-Ballymakeera-Coolea and Reinaree areas of County Cork he will either include these areas in the existing pilot project or initiate a new study in this area to determine the role of wildlife in the recent increased incidence of tuberculosis infected herds. [26616/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The pilot project in north Cork is part of a field trial being undertaken by my Department to evaluate the contribution of infected badger populations to the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland. The licences for this research are granted by the national parks and wildlife service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

The current four area project commenced in 1996 with the selection of areas based on scientific examination of relevant criteria. The other project areas contained in this study are in counties Donegal, Monaghan and Kilkenny. It is not possible to revise the experimental design at this advanced stage of the project.

The percentages of confirmed cases of tuberculosis in badgers in the Cork project area in the three years since removal operations commenced in 1997 were 29.5%, 30.3% and 24%. Data relating to TB levels are being analysed and will be published at a later date. Under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness there is a commitment to introduce additional personnel to augment the wildlife programme. These staff will be targeted at the 20% of the country which yields 50% of current TB reactors. Certain selection criteria are being used to identify these areas of higher than average incidence and the areas referred to by the Deputy will be part of this new initiative if a higher than average level of bovine tuberculosis is identified in those areas.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

205 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the current situation regarding negotiations to introduce a new tuberculosis reactor compensation scheme based on market value; if he will elaborate on this concept; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26617/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides for the introduction of an on-farm market valuation system under the TB and brucellosis schemes. Meetings have been taking place between officials of my Department and the farming organisations on the detailed arrangements for the introduction of the new system. However, given the complexity and broad range of the issues involved, it has not been possible to conclude these negotiations to date. The most recent meeting took place on 16 November 2000 and a further meeting is due shortly.

Under the proposed on-farm valuation scheme, the objective is to introduce a system which provides fair compensation for herdowners whose herds are affected by TB or brucellosis so as to enable them to replace affected animals with equivalent stock. For purposes of valuations, "market value" will be the equivalent price which might reasonably have been obtained for the animal, at the time of determination of compensation, from a purchaser in the open market if the animal was not affected by TB or brucellosis or was not being removed as part of a depopulation under part of the disease eradication programme.

The operation of the on-farm valuation system must contribute towards reducing the incidence of the disease, should not be unduly expensive and the conditions attaching to the system should be readily understood by all involved. Its operation will be monitored by a committee which will include representatives of the Department and farming organisations and will report on a regular basis to the animal health forum.