asked the Minister for Agriculture and food the amount of veterinary fees payable to veterinary surgeons in private practice for testing carried our under the bovine TB eradication scheme for the round of testing 21 April 1986 to 21 December 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Under the bovine tuberculosis eradication scheme the round of testing which commenced on 21 April, 1986 continued until 30 March 1987. During that period veterinary practitioners were paid some £9 million in fees for testing.

In view of the information given by the Minister, can he guarantee that with fees of £20 million to be collected by way of levies there will be no difficulty in funding the full round of testing required to eradicate bovine tuberculosis?

I can assure the Deputy of that. Of the £30 million allocated in 1987 for disease eradication schemes we estimate that vets. fees will amount to £13.5 million, that is £12.8 million for tuberculosis and £0.7 million for brucellosis testing.