(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of dairy cows slaughtered in Europe since the introduction of the super-levy on milk production.

It is understood that the total number of dairy cows slaughtered in member states between the introduction of the milk super-levy on 2 April 1984, and 30 September 1984 was 3.77 million. The figure for the remainder of the 1984-85 year is not yet available.

(Limerick West): Has the Minister any figures for slaughterings in this country?

Yes, I have. We have figures for the whole marketing year 1984-85. The figure is 328,000. That figure fluctuates from year to year. It was as high as 439,000 in the marketing year of 1979-80.

(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that the widespread slaughtering of dairy cows here because of the imposition of the super-levy will cause a reduction in cow numbers in future years? If you are going to eliminate the breeding herds, you will cause subsequent problems. What proposals has the Minister to redress that situation?

As I pointed out before, the figures for 1984-85 are not exceptional. There have been three years in the past seven years when the figure was much greater. It would actually be less than average.

Would the Minister agree that, especially in the late seventies, brucellosis and TB would have accounted for a fair number of slaughterings?

Yes, that is quite likely.

It is certainly easing off to a considerable extent at present.

I would not dispute that point.