Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1681. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the tuberculosis eradication programme movement of contiguous herds which is automatically restricted to a four months test period; his plans to review this and increase the time limit in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28453/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Herds which are contiguous to the farm fragment linked to a high risk breakdown are put on a contiguous test programme. However, there is normally an interval of several weeks following a herd breakdown before a contiguous herd is tested. Previously during this interval, farmers were free to trade their animals and therefore there was a risk of spreading TB from the sale of such animals to clear herds. Statistics available to my Department show that animals in herds which are contiguous to high risk breakdowns are 3 times more likely to have TB infected animals than “normal” herds, indicating that the risk of TB spreading from herds which are contiguous to high risk breakdowns is very significant.

As a result, my Department introduced controls on movement from contiguous herds such that herds which have not had a full herd test within the previous 4 months are prevented from selling cattle on the open market pending a full clear herd test. However, such herds are permitted to move cattle direct to slaughter and to buy-in cattle under permit. They are immediately de-restricted once they have passed a TB herd test. I should point out that the new controls only apply to herds which are identified as relevant to the breakdown following an epidemiological investigation. I have no plans to review this policy or to increase the time limit in place.