Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38139/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is officially free of Brucellosis since 2009 (our last case was in 2006) and my Department has scaled down the brucellosis testing programme since then, as follows:

- the age threshold for annual round testing has been increased from 12 to 24 months;

- only 20% of dairy herds and 50% of non-dairy herds are required to be tested this year for the round test.

- the validity period of the pre-movement test has been increased from 30 days to 60 days;

- the age-limit for the pre-movement test for female animals has been increased from 12 to 18 months and, in view of the lower risk attached to their movement, to 24 months for bulls.

All of the above changes have reduced the number of animals to be tested from 4.7m in 2008 to 1.8m this year, with significant benefits to farmers in terms of reduced testing costs, estimated at approximately €10m per annum. I will be consulting with the farming organisations in the next few months about a further scaling down of the Brucellosis testing programme in 2013, but I will continue to adopt a cautious approach in view of the fact that Brucellosis is still present in Northern Ireland.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that we will be assured of having a continuation of the Government supports that are available, that is the €100 per suckler cow and the fifteen disposal costs of all p i calves in the compulsory programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38141/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I put in place some limited funding to support an industry led programme to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) during this year’s voluntary phase in order to encourage farmer participation in the programme and to help demonstrate the economic benefits that accrue to farmers as a result of BVD eradication and is currently being reviewed.