Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his estimate of the savings that can be achieved by securing brucellosis free status for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20320/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Brucellosis is now at an historically low level in Ireland. The last confirmed case was disclosed in April 2006. My Department applied to the European Commission on 31 March last for formal recognition of Officially Brucellosis Free status (OBF) for Ireland. I am hopeful that a decision on our application will be taken in July at the latest. Achievement of OBF status would allow the relaxation of some of the programme's control measures over the coming years and this will reduce the burden on farmers of testing and movement controls.

However, as Brucellosis continues to exist in Northern Ireland, my Department will be adopting a cautious approach to reducing controls and any change to existing controls will be based on risk assessment. Some consultations have already taken place with representatives of the farming bodies on the testing regime for the future.

With regard to possible savings arising from the attainment of Officially Brucellosis Free status, the position is that the cost of the Brucellosis eradication programme has been falling progressively over the last number of years in line with the reduction in the incidence of the disease. In particular, the cost of compensation paid by my Department to farmers in respect of Brucellosis reactors fell from €24.2m in 2002 to €280,000 in 2008. Since the cost of compensation has fallen to very low levels and, as a general rule, farmers themselves pay for Brucellosis testing, the savings for my Department will not be significant in the short-term, particularly in view of the fact that the reduction in control measures will be gradual, based on risk assessment in the context of the disease still being present on the island. However, over time there will be significant benefits to farmers in terms of reduced testing costs and the relaxation of restrictions on cattle movements and trade.