John Bruton
Ceist:78 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the location or locations where all BSE carcases are buried in County Meath. [29276/00]
Written Answers. - BSE Infected Animals.
John Bruton
Ceist:79 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the statement by EU Commissioner Franz Fischler to the effect that there is a risk of animals who have BSE infecting other animals through the water table, where either the excrement of the BSE-infected animal or residues from its carcase enter the water supply; if this phenomenon poses a risk for humans also; and the exact locations at which all BSE-infected animals have been buried so that safety precautions and warnings can be given to those who may be taking water directly from the ground water supply in the vicinity. [29581/00]
John Bruton
Ceist:80 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will make a statement on the likelihood of buried carcases of BSE-infected animals infecting the water supply for neighbouring residents; the State agencies that were consulted in regard to the location of burial of BSE-infected animals; and if such agencies were not consulted, the reason therefor. [29590/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 to 80, inclusive, together.
My attention has been drawn to Mr. Fischler's statement. The overwhelming weight of current scientific evidence is that the most likely transmission routes for BSE are through the consumption by cattle of infected meat and bone meal or from dam to calf. I am not aware of any new scientific data suggesting grounds for suspecting that environmental contamination of the kind referred to by Mr. Fischler is a factor in the transmission of the disease. However, I am currently seeking clarification in relation to his remarks.
Similarly, there is no evidence to suggest that the practice of burying BSE suspect animals is a factor in the spread of BSE in cattle or vCJD in humans. Indeed I understand that research conducted by the UK Environment Agency in 1997, concluded in relation to burial in landfill sites, that the risk of an individual ingesting sufficient infective material from carcasses buried in those sites was negligible.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department no longer buries the carcases of BSE infected animals on farms. However, this was the practice up to recently, as there was no satisfactory alternative for the disposal of such animals. In all cases of burial, the rules of regulation 4 of S.I. 257 of 1994 had to be applied. BSE suspect carcasses were buried under licence from my Department and under the direct supervision of a Departmental veterinarian. This officer was required to ensure that the site was located away from water courses; the burial pit was dug to a depth of ten feet; the head was removed at the edge of the pit and any contaminated soil was buried; and the carcase was covered in quicklime, to accelerate decomposition, before being covered in soil.
Veterinary officers supervising burials are obliged to consult with local authorities in cases where two or more animals are being buried together. Such an obligation does not apply in cases where a single carcase is buried.
In relation to the location of BSE infected animals, and as I have already indicated on numerous occasions, I do not consider it appropriate to publish the precise locations of burials in each county, which would entail the publication of the name and address of every farmer in whose herd a BSE suspect animal was found.
My Department is, however, prepared to release to each county council, upon a written request by the county manager, the names and addresses of every farmer in the county in whose herd a BSE suspect animal was found. This information is being released on the understanding that it is treated in a confidential manner as its public release could have various repercussions, both for the person in question and from a BSE control perspective. The general release of this information could discourage farmers from reporting BSE suspect animals thereby undermining the national effort to safeguard public and animal health and to contain and eliminate the disease from the national herd.
Finally, there have, to date, been 41 outbreaks of BSE in County Meath: 1989, one case; 1990, one case; 1993, one case; 1994, one case; 1995, two cases; 1996, five cases; 1997, seven cases; 1998, four cases; 1999, eight cases and 2000 to date, 11 cases.