Will any staff be available for redeployment in five year's time when, as the Minister expects, brucellosis will have been eradicated?

Yes, that obviously makes sense. The whole disease eradication programme is part of the same division within the Department, and some such redeployment as the Deputy has suggested would be the logical thing to do in the ordinary administrative process.

Will the Minister not consider that in order to give a degree of seriousness to the Government's intention to eradicate both these diseases in the first instance plans should be drawn up now for the redeployment of staff, even for five years hence, on the basis that that will show that the Government are seriously intent on dealing with this matter? Is the Minister happy that there is not any precise target in regard to the eradication of tuberculosis?

In regard to the latter part of the Deputy's question I should like to state that when replying to the last question I was referring to the updated acceleration programme with the help of the EEC. We have made a start this year from our own resources by initiating blitz programmes in certain areas of high incidence with a view to tackling the high incidence rates that have survived over the years. I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion about the urgent redeployment of staff from one disease eradication programme which is reaching finality to one where there are difficulties. I will have it investigated.