Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures she is taking to eradicate tuberculosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32739/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The overall national strategy for dealing with TB includes a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, a wildlife programme, the use of the gamma interferon test as an adjunct to the tuberculin test in problem herds and the depopulation of infected herds in some cases. In addition, my Department provides advice to farmers in relation to bio-security against TB infection such as maintaining satisfactory stock-proof boundary fencing, avoiding contact with other herds and exercising care in buying cattle.

The present eradication programme is scientifically based and is kept under on-going review, as evidenced by the changes that have occurred in recent times. 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 animal identification and passport system, a computerised movement monitoring system (CMMS) and an animal health computer system (AHCS).

In addition, given the role of wildlife, the current scheme contains a significant wildlife strategy aimed at removing badgers in adjacent areas where they are implicated in tuberculosis breakdowns. The wildlife strategy is implemented under licence from and in co-operation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

These measures have improved the effectiveness of the programme as evidenced by a significant reduction in the disease from 4.2 reactors per thousand animals tested in 1998 to 2.9 in 2005. The 2005 TB eradication programme was completed with 97% of the 123,322 cattle herds tested within the twelve-month period when some 9 million tests were carried out.

My Department will continue to monitor and review the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme on an on-going basis with a view to the eventual eradication of the disease. In this context, 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.