Mr. Michael Sheahan:

Yes. Neither test is perfect. That is why if a herd has had two clear tests it does not mean the problem is solved. The tests are not good enough. There is nobody out there developing a test in the short term. In the next five or ten years it is not likely that a better test will come along. One reads about breakthroughs from time to time and new tests under development. We would love if there was but the reality is the tests we have are pretty good as disease tests go but if there are two clear tests in a herd with a problem, unfortunately, a certain percentage of infected animals will be left behind. We are finding that approximately 30% of herds that have had a breakdown will go down again at some stage in the future. It is better than before. The blood test is helping. It is getting out more animals but a percentage of infected animals is being left behind and not being picked up. That is why there is a risk for up to ten years associated with herds that have had a significant TB breakdown.

Deputy Penrose asked about chronic herds. It depends on one's definition in that regard. We have the numbers of herds that have had six or more breakdowns. Some herds have one breakdown and that is it, they are cleared and it does not happen again but there are some chronic herds. Between 500 and 1,000 herds have a significant number of repeat breakdowns. That is an area on which we will continue to focus.

A question was asked about the level of TB in Northern Ireland. I do not know if we have an exact figure. Our herd incidence rate is approximately 3.5%. In the North it is approximately 9%. It has a much more serious problem than we have. The North does not have a badger culling programme.