asked the Minister for Agriculture if the eradication of brucellosis and tuberculosis in full in Ireland is an attainable objective; and, if not, the level of disease incidence which would be considered sufficiently low by him to enable him to say that the eradication programme for brucellosis and tuberculosis had been successful.

3.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if there is any estimate in his Department of the date by which bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis will be eradicated in Ireland; and, if no estimate has been made of the date of likely eradication, if he is satisfied that there is a sufficiently precise target available against which to measure the success of the Department's programme for the eradication of these diseases.

4.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the arrangements that will be made to redeploy staff, both technical and general, now engaged in the eradication of bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis, when the eradication programme has been completed.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, together.

Bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis have been fully eradicated in many other countries and I see no reason why the eradication campaigns here should not also prove successful. Having regard to the present rate of progress it is estimated that brucellosis is likely to be eradicated within the next five years, and that the incidence of bovine tuberculosis can also be reduced significantly by the end of that period. Complete eradication of the latter disease may, however, take somewhat longer.

The possibilities for redeployment of staff will be kept under review in the light of progress towards completion of the eradication programme.