Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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664. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of confirmed avian influenza at Fota Wildlife Park, if he will publish the biosecurity audit for all State-owned wildlife facilities nationwide, detail compensation, surveillance and culling protocols for private and commercial poultry in Cork environs and commit to upgrading laboratory and rapid response capacity in the Cork region. [57121/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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State-owned wildlife facilities fall under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to which questions on that topic may be directed.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that compensation to owners of animals may be payable if a cull of those animals is directed by my Department in the event of an outbreak in that herd or flock of certain diseases, including highly pathogenic avian influenza. The compensation may relate to the animal that is culled, or to an animal product, animal feed or similar item that is destroyed in relation to the outbreak. The compensation may not exceed the open market value of the animal or item. My Department is monitoring the situation regarding avian influenza both nationally and in Cork, and continuously engaging with stakeholders. The method of culling used where there is confirmation or suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza depends on the size of the holding and the circumstances.

My Department currently operates two Regional Veterinary Laboratories in the Munster region, one in Cork and one in Co. Limerick, in addition to a blood testing facility in Co. Cork. Both laboratories are fully equipped to provide a wide range of animal disease surveillance services. My Department is working in partnership with the Office of Public Works to implement the previously agreed redevelopment programme of our Regional Veterinary Laboratory network which is included in the Programme for Government and the National Development Plan. As part of the redevelopment programme, an enhanced Munster Regional Veterinary Laboratory is planned for North Cork which will replace the existing facilities in Cork and Limerick. The acquisition of the proposed site in North Cork is at an advanced stage.

Detailed advice relating to avian influenza is available on my Department’s website.