Dr. Damien Barrett:

We are making a special effort with the herds that we call "relapse herds". These are herds that have broken down. We have a definition of three or more standard reactors that would indicate cattle-to-cattle transmission. This is how it is spread. It is probably confined to the animals. When there are three or more standard reactors, we are very worried that there will be onward cattle-to-cattle transmission. These herds can relapse. I refer to animals of a specific group, such as cows. If a cohort of cows was present at a breakdown previously, they are a special concern to us. We have a programme where we now follow those herds much more aggressively.

Another thing to which I would like to draw the Deputy's attention is that we are trying to involve people's private veterinary practitioners more in providing advice. There is a programme called the targeted animal advisory service for animal health, TASAH, which we do in conjunction with Animal Health Ireland. In this, we fund herd owners and private veterinary practitioners to go out and do a risk assessment and provide bio-security advice. Approximately 300 of those visits have been carried out. Almost 500 vets have been trained to do this. This is something we want to expand because we are cognisant that the herd owner's private vet is probably more familiar with the situation than a Department official would be. There is a valued relationship there that has taken place for quite some time. Things might be communicated better that way.

I think Mr. O'Mahony has covered everything else.