Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 37: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a report will be issued by her Department on the case of animal health problems such as high mortality, stunted growth and low milk production on the farm of a person ( details supplied ) in County Kilkenny; and if she will give this matter every priority and assistance in view of the huge financial loss being suffered primarily by the person concerned. [12176/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department, along with other agencies and this person's private veterinary practitioners, has been carrying out investigations in relation to the situation on the farm of the person named. As the problem on the farm is a complex one, the approach has been to investigate as many factors as possible in a methodical, scientific way so that the most appropriate course of action can be pursued to try to identify the underlying cause. In so far as my Department is concerned the following have taken place: feed and water intake studies conducted by my Department's regional veterinary laboratory, Kilkenny and Teagasc; elective post mortem investigations on a number of animals from the farm and numerous tests on live animals on the farm; and funding of aspects of a herd health programme.

It had been suggested that one of the possible causes of the problems might relate to exposure of the cattle to fluoride. The Department has examined this aspect and carried out elective and general post mortem examinations on a number of animals from the farm. The findings of the post mortems, coupled with results from live animals have not provided any evidence to date, that the problems reported on the farm are related to fluoride exposure. The detailed report of this work will be available in the near future.

It was also agreed that a herd health programme should be developed by private veterinary practitioners of the person concerned supported by my Department to deal with endemic diseases in calves and mastitis in cows. This is being pursued. In addition, further investigations are continuing, involving a number of agencies, in relation to epidemiological, ecological and environment aspects.

No specific source of the problems on the farm has been identified by the range of investigations undertaken to date despite the commitment of considerable resources both in terms of expertise and finance from the Department and other agencies. However, significant infectious diseases have been identified which may contribute to the problem. These are being addressed under the herd health programme. I am conscious of the particular difficulties that the situation is presenting for the person concerned and my Department will continue to give priority and assistance to the ongoing investigations in conjunction with the other agencies concerned.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 38: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of animal welfare officers here; the funding provided by her Department to the ISPCA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12004/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has certain statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals. The legislation governing this is the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2000. In addition there is specific legislation in relation to pigs, calves and laying hens.

Welfare cases which come to notice are dealt with, generally, by officers based in my Department's district veterinary offices. These officers deal with the implementation of animal welfare legislation as well as having responsibilities in a wide number of other areas related to animal health, disease control, etc. Funding is available to deal with emergency care, feeding, transport, etc., of welfare compromised farm animals. I am satisfied that the resources available within my Department are sufficient to deal with such cases and to provide a high standard of animal welfare.

In 2004 the farm animal welfare advisory council, FAWAC, developed an early warning-intervention system, EWS, for dealing with animal welfare cases involving my Department, Irish Farmers' Association and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. The objective of the system is to provide a framework within which farm animal welfare problems can be identified before they become critical or overwhelming. The new system allows for concerned individuals to approach their local IFA representatives, their local SPCA or my Department in the knowledge that the matter will thereafter be dealt with in the most effective, timely and sensitive manner.

In addition to the foregoing, my Department makes ex gratia payments annually to organisations, including the ISPCA, involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services to assist in their ongoing work. To date we have provided a total of €5.97 million to such bodies, €1.2 million of which was paid to 86 organisations in December last to assist them during 2006. A provision of €1.1 million for this purpose is included in my Department's Estimates for 2006 and applications will be invited later this year for payments in respect of 2007. Payments to the ISPCA have been in respect of both headquarters level and branches of the organisation in several counties.

The main statutes governing cruelty to animals in this country are the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965. Responsibility for pursuing complaints under that legislation rests with the Garda Síochána which may, on receipt of a complaint, investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an act of cruelty against an animal. Officers of my Department are regularly involved in assisting the gardaí in such cases.