Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not allowed to avail of a 30-day tuberculosis test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13322/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In view of the level of TB and brucellosis in Ireland, all herds with eligible animals 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. To facilitate the completion of the annual programme of tests and follow-up where disease is detected, such testing is conducted on a district electoral division, DED, basis and is organised into phases such that there is, as far a practicable, an even distribution of workload throughout the year taking into consideration daylight, prevailing weather conditions and availability of private veterinary practitioners.

Traditionally, the annual round test for the herd in question has been scheduled for completion in the course of the first phase. However, in the past the herd test has not been completed within the timeframe allocated. The current annual round test for this herd has been listed to the nominated veterinary surgeon and is due for completion in the course of the first phase, that is, before 12 June 2005.

Eligible animals being moved out of a herd must have passed a TB test within the previous 12 months and a brucellosis test within the previous 30 days. The majority of farmers would like to have their herd tests scheduled at peak sales periods to minimise private tests for animals they wish to sell, such as by having the herd tested shortly before special sales in the autumn. However, it would be impossible to manage the national testing programme if all herd tests were to be scheduled for this period or if individual testing of "out-of-test" animals for sale were permitted when a herd test is scheduled. It is therefore the policy not to reschedule the routine "round" tests out of their planned current phase unless there is a compelling disease reason to do so.