Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the practice of veterinary surgeons who used to carry out retests on animals that had failed their TB herd test, who are employed by him in the district veterinary offices, has been discontinued. [32185/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I presume that, since TB reactors are not as a general rule re-tested, the Deputy is referring to re-testing of animals which give an inconclusive reaction to the TB skin test. The position on this issue is that my Department has not discontinued its practice of using its own veterinary inspectors to test inconclusive reactors. However, my Department does not have the resources to conduct all ancillary testing and much of this work is outsourced to private veterinary practitioners. I should point out that, with a view to disease control and cost savings, my Department strategically manages its own veterinary staff resources to conduct as much of this testing as possible.