asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount of money being spent on research in his Department on the cause of diseases in animals; and the number of people employed on this work.

The amount being spent by my Department in 1983 on direct research into the causes of diseases in animals is in the region of £260,000. The number of people employed at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Abbotstown, where all of the work is undertaken, is 75. For about a quarter of their time they are engaged on research, the remainder being devoted to diagnostic and investigative work.

In view of the number of small cattle turned down because of brucellosis the amount paid is not sufficient. It is sufficient for strong cattle but it is not for small cattle. I know a farmer who lost five out of his ten cattle and he got less than £400 in grant from the Department.

I am sorry, Deputy Brennan, the question on the Order Paper is about research and not about compensation for reactors.

I would like to be helpful to the Deputy and I will examine the point he raised.

That farmer could have got £2,000 for those five young cattle but when they were turned down he got less than £400. This small farmer cannot afford that, so I would be grateful if the Minister would do something.

That is a problem I get frequently in my constituency.

I am calling Question No. 6.

(Limerick West): Is the Minister satisfied that the research is adequate in view of the number of breakdowns for unknown reasons? Would the Minister ask the research section in his Department to carry out deeper investigations into the reasons for the breakdowns?

The causes are being identified. I am satisfied that the research facilities are adequate. They are doing a very good job and the reduction in the incidence of bovine TB and brucellosis is proof of that.

6.

(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give the amounts and details of moneys paid to farmers under the tuberculosis/ brucellosis eradication schemes for 1980, 1981 and 1982 and the estimated cost for 1983; and the expenditure on those schemes for the same years.

As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose to circulate it in the Official Report.

Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme

Brucellosis Eradication Scheme

Hardship Fund

7.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will, in view of County Kerry being made a special TB status zone from 1 July 1983, give an assurance that he will allow the local veterinary surgeons in private practice to carry out these two tests per annum, as they have done so effectively in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Discussions in relation to the special status zone are taking place with interested parties, and the manner in which a second round of testing in the zone will be carried out figures prominently in those discussions. No final decision has, however, been taken in this regard.

I thank the Minister for having Kerry designated as a special status zone for bovine TB testing. I am sure my question prompted the Minister to make a quick decision here. In view of the fact that Kerry has set a headline for the rest of the country and reduced the number of bovine TB cases from 10 per cent to .2 per cent due to the efforts of the veterinary surgeons who are in private practice in Kerry, I would seek an assurance from the Minister that he would allow them to do the two tests for this special area.

I am not sure if the incidence is as low as the Deputy stated. The objective of the scheme is to get it down to .2 per cent, but it is relatively low at the moment in Kerry. I have had discussions with the Irish veterinary union which included some representatives from Kerry. I have given them an assurance that that matter will be fully discussed with them before any decision is taken. I think they are reasonably happy about that.

Will the Department benefit by a grant of £4 million from the EEC in view of the fact that Kerry was made a special status zone?

I do not know about the apportionment of that grant, but if the scheme is to be carried out on such an extensive scale in Kerry then proportionately the Department will benefit.

Is it intended to include any other areas in this special status zone?

Yes, I have a special concern for Wexford, strangely enough, and it is being considered. We are thinking about it.

What about County Cork?

Well, we do not want to do a tour of the country. The south is the area we are concerned about most.