John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

Recent changes to the TB eradication scheme recognise that in addition to efforts to control the control the badger population, we must move to address some of the other constraints such as the movement of high-risk animals and animals from high-risk herds. In particular, the changes are designed to ensure herds are tested on time and to reduce the movement opportunities for potentially infected cattle in order to protect clear herds from infection. For these reasons, the enhancement to the TB programme includes tighter controls on overdue tests, restriction of movement of animals from contiguous herds pending tests and restrictions on inconclusive reactors. As I said, the changes were made following a series of consultation meetings at which we took on board the concerns of the farming community. The measures are based on research which demonstrates that there are increased risks attached to the movement of certain animals.

As a result of these changes, there has been a significant reduction in both herd and animal instances of TB. Reactor numbers have fallen from 40,000 ten years ago to 18,500 last year, the lowest incidence since the commencement of the programme in the 1950s. The Department is committed to maintaining its efforts to eradicate TB. There has been a great improvement in Wicklow east and west, but it is a work in progress.