Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for testing and culling of deer in view of another outbreak of tuberculosis in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15760/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The role played by deer in the spread of bovine TB is currently the subject of a detailed scientific investigation being carried out by my officials in collaboration with UCD, focusing on the genetic relationship between strains of bovine TB isolated from cattle, deer and badgers in Co. Wicklow. Previous work carried out by my officials in this area had demonstrated that the same strains were circulating in the three species in the Calary area of Wicklow. A related investigation, carried out by the Calary Deer Steering Group which involves my officials, NPWS, Coillte and the IFA, is continuing to conduct a survey of the level of TB in culled deer in that area.

 In other parts of the country, there is no evidence of deer playing a significant role in the spread of TB in cattle, although they may be a spillover species.  In any area where there are local concerns about deer and TB, my officials are willing to test culled deer for TB free of charge through the regional veterinary laboratories.  In this way, if there are areas where deer may play a role locally, this can be detected.