Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 7 of 30 November 2016, the progress on the development and roll-out of a tuberculosis vaccination programme for badgers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40870/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As I mentioned in my response to parliamentary question number 7 of 30 November 2016, it is my Department's intention to deploy a full badger vaccination strategy as soon as robust scientific evidence becomes available to demonstrate that such a programme is practicable and will deliver an outcome equivalent to the existing wildlife programme. 

A number of field trials have been taking place throughout the country, involving the vaccination of badgers by intramuscular injection with  the human BCG vaccine. The field trials are now coming to a conclusion and the  preliminary results are currently being evaluated. Based on those results I expect to be in a position to make an announcement on the future role of a badger vaccination programme before the end of the year.