Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 329: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the delay in her Department passing out the annual round of testing dates for tuberculosis for veterinary surgeons; if the test will be advised at an earlier date in order that it can be carried out on a more even basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12914/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In view of the level of TB and brucellosis in Ireland, all herds are required by EU Directive 64/432/EEC to have one annual test for TB and brucellosis to maintain official free status and dependent trading opportunities. My Department circulated instructions for the 2005 annual round test to the district veterinary offices on 1 March 2005 and the DVOs issued instructions to the private veterinary practitioners who carry out the tests shortly thereafter. This year my Department decided to reduce the number of phases from six to three with the result that the first phase of tests are scheduled to be completed by 12 June compared with 2 May last year. In view of this and the fact that the "round" circular issued three weeks earlier than last year, private veterinary practitioners are being given a significantly longer period to carry out the tests this year than in other years.