Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the outcome of the cull of around 37 deer in early summer 2006 in the south County Dublin uplands for TB testing; and if the strain of TB found is the same as to be found in cattle. [29498/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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While a cull of deer has not been undertaken, a study has been underway in the south County Dublin area since February 2007 with the objective of seeking to establish what similarities there are between the TB strain types found in cattle, badgers and deer in the area. This is a slow process and the study will not be completed for several months. It is not expected that it will be possible to draw any definitive conclusions from the study as to the original source of the Mycobacterium bovis strain or the direction of the spread of TB between the species concerned and findings from this small study cannot necessarily be extrapolated to other areas.