Jimmy Devins (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the incidence of brucellosis in the cattle herd in 2005 compared to recent years. [26160/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The incidence of brucellosis has fallen very significantly since 1998 with the number of laboratory positives falling from 6,417 in 1998 to 664 in 2004. This represents a 90% reduction in disease levels in that period. The total number of animals slaughtered per annum under the eradication programme fell from 29,778 to 6,195 during the same period. Further progress has been made this year. Up to the end of August this year, there were only 206 blood positives compared with 514 in the same period last year. There were only 123 new herd restrictions compared with 202 in the same period in 2004; 24 herds were depopulated in 2005 compared with 57 in the same period in 2004. Some 1,346 animals were removed as brucellosis reactors-incontacts compared with 5,078 in the same period in 2004. The substantial improvement in disease incidence is due to a number of factors, including continued co-operation from all parties with the eradication regime, the tightening up on illegal cattle movements through the cattle movement monitoring system, the regulation of dealers, prosecutions for breaches and the imposition of penalties for failures to comply with animal disease and identification regulations. I am confident this progress can be maintained into the future with the continued operation of the existing measures and the ongoing co-operation of farmers and all involved in the livestock industry. It is, however, vital that we continue to recognise that brucellosis is a highly contagious disease and that we do not relax or relent in our efforts to eradicate it from our national herd. In view of this, we need to continue in the medium term with the existing comprehensive control and eradication measures, which have brought about positive results in recent years in terms of reduced incidence of the disease.