John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to review the tuberculosis eradication programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12007/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The main elements of the current bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme include an annual mandatory test on each herd; test on herds contiguous to or otherwise epidemiologically linked to infected herds; veterinary inspection of carcasses presented for human consumption; prompt removal of reactor animals; epidemiological investigation following confirmation of infection and spread; tracing of TB infected or potentially infected animals back from and forward to other herds where appropriate; use of the gamma Interferon test, the ELISA and the anamnestic ELISA test in problem herds as an adjunct to the tuberculin test; depopulation of infected herds where the level or duration of infection indicates that this is necessary to clear the herd and-or protect the neighbourhood; contribution towards the cost of the eradication measures through the disease levies, which are paid on cattle slaughterings, live cattle exports and deliveries to creameries; compensation for animals removed as reactors based on the market value for each animal removed subject to certain limits; and a wildlife strategy and research on developing blood tests, vaccines and other technological tools required to improve effectiveness of programmes.

The present eradication programme is scientifically based and is kept under constant review, as evidenced by the changes that have occurred in recent times. Such recent changes include a more focused contiguous herd testing policy and greater use of the ancillary gamma interferon blood test in target herds. On the technology side, new and enhanced computer systems have been developed including an individual bovine animal unique identification and passport system, a computerised movement monitoring system for bovine animals, CMMS, and an animal health computer system, AHCS. In view of the recognition that the incidence of the disease in wildlife is a major impediment to eradication of the disease, the current eradication scheme contains a significant wildlife strategy aimed at removing badgers in adjacent areas where they are implicated in tuberculosis breakdowns and which is implemented under licence from and in co-operation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The recent changes which have been introduced into the scheme have improved the effectiveness of the programme as evidenced by a significant reduction in the incidence of the disease from 4.2 reactors per thousand in 1998 to 2.6 in 2004. However, my Department will continue to monitor and review the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme on an ongoing basis with a view to the eventual eradication of the disease. In this context, in the short-term, notwithstanding the fact that the existing wildlife strategy has contributed to a reduction in the incidence of bovine TB, it is accepted that the development of a vaccine for badgers is a prerequisite if eradication of tuberculosis from the cattle population is to be achieved. My Department plans to commence a large-scale field trial of BCG in badgers in the near future to test the efficacy of a vaccine. However, any vaccine will not be available in the immediate future and the existing strategy will remain in place for some time. In the meantime, the existing programme, updated as appropriate in light of developments, will remain in place.