Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, further to Parliamentary Question No. 420 of 2 November 2011, the reason veterinary surgeons employed by him in the district veterinary offices do not carry out retests on herds that have had a reactor, after the reactor has been removed from the herd. [33789/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As stated in my reply to Question No 420 of 2 November, my Department's veterinary inspectors carry out some testing in reactor herds, where resources permit. 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.