Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Independent Epidemiology Body.

Gerry Reynolds

Ceist:

365 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will establish an independent epidemiology body with a particular brief (details supplied); and the number of officials in his Department who have qualifications in this area. [2697/02]

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

In 1989 as part of the national strategic plan for the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle, an epidemiology unit known as the tuberculosis investigation unit, TIU, was established by ERAD, in co-operation with Teagasc and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The purpose of the unit was to establish a research group, bringing together a number of disciplines from different agencies, to investigate the factors that militate against the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle and to identify means of improving the rate of eradication. Over the years this function has been extended to include other animal diseases of major importance. This change in focus is reflected in its current title, the veterinary epidemiology and tuberculosis investigation unit, VETIU. Projects have been undertaken by members of the unit into a variety of issues falling within this broader remit. The unit has gained particular expertise in such areas as quantitative methods of analysis, geographical information systems, database development and data management. The unit's work is determined and man aged by a project board, which meets regularly to plan for the review progress of the various research projects involved.

Building on both the success of this model and the experience it has gained over the years, it has been decided to formally extend the remit of, and expand the membership of, this unit. The unit will in future be responsible for carrying out epidemiological and risk assessment studies across all areas in which animal health and husbandry practices could impact on public and/or animal health. The unit will continue its existing work programme on bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis and BSE but in order to reflect the change in membership and scope, the unit will be re-titled the veterinary epidemiology and risk assessment unit VERAU.

My Department is at present examining the human resource implications of this development.

My Department currently employs two full time experts with formal epidemiological qualifications, one in the veterinary, epidemiology and tuberculosis investigation unit, and one in the BSE unit. Their expertise can and has been used in fields other than those for which they have specific responsibility, when the need arises.