Seán Fleming
Ceist:207. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the surveying of wild deer for tuberculosis in the Calary area of County Wicklow by his Department; that this area had for some time the highest levels of tuberculosis in cattle nationally; that the level of tuberculosis in the local badger population was 26%, as against a national average of 16%; that, accordingly, it would have been expected that other wildlife species, such as wild deer, would have become infected; that over the past four years over 120,000 wild deer were culled, and his Department has confirmed that less than 1% of the carcasses tested resulted positive for tuberculosis; that this would suggest the Calary project results were an isolated incident, due to high levels in the local cattle and badger population, and not reflective of County Wicklow in general or the situation nationally; that there is no evidence here or in Europe to suggest wild deer spread tuberculosis to livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27465/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra