Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if snares for badgers are still being used. [33285/08]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if snaring is being conducted during the badger lactating season; and if so, if it has a relation to a recent tuberculosis outbreak in the area in question. [33286/08]

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of badgers killed per annum, and by area, since 1997; and the number of these that tested positive for tuberculosis. [33287/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 to 418, inclusive, together.

Capturing of badgers by my Department is carried out under licences granted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NWPS) in areas of the country where serious outbreaks of TB have occurred and where an epidemiological investigation carried out by my Department's Veterinary Inspectorate has found that badgers are the likely source of the infection. Under the programme, capturing of badgers in new capture areas is not permitted during the lactating months of February and March.

The restraints used are not 'snares' and are approved under Section 34 of the 1976 Wildlife Act. They are specifically designed for the purpose; they include a swivel and incorporate a 'stop' to prevent tightening beyond a predetermined point. Setts are inspected before noon every day to ensure the welfare of badgers is not compromised. Research has shown that damage caused to badgers by the restraints used is negligible.

The number of badgers captured since 1997 is as follows:

Approximately 50% of the badgers captured under the programme have been subjected to post mortem. Research undertaken by UCD on behalf of my Department has shown that, where detailed post mortem with culturing of tissues is undertaken, TB has been confirmed in approximately 48% of badgers.

A key element of the Department's overall TB eradication strategy is the development and implementation of a programme for the vaccination of badgers. Work to date in a controlled environment has shown positive results and a 3-year field trial of the orally delivered BCG vaccine is about to commence. However it will be some time before benefits of the vaccine will be seen and therefore it is envisaged that the current badger policy will be retained in the medium term.

Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Question 419: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the expenditure on the bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme in 2007 and to date in 2008. [33288/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Expenditure under the TB eradication programme, not including cost of salaries of Department staff, has been calculated at €43.3m in 2007. Expenditure to 30 September 2008 is estimated at €39.7m.

It is expected that final expenditure in 2008 will exceed that for 2007 due to a substantial increase in the cost of compensation linked to higher cattle prices, mainly dairy stock, and an increase in reactor numbers.