asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when it is estimated that the Irish cattle herd will finally be declared free of bovine TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Since Ireland's national cattle herd is already recognised as officially tuberculosis free the question of any further declaration in relation to its disease status does not arise.

The final elimination of bovine TB is dependent on a number of requirements, chief among which is a comprehensive and continuous programme of testing over several years. I regard this year's programme as the beginning of a period of greater continuity in testing which I shall seek to maintain in the future.

Will the Minister not agree that because of the high cost to the State of bovine TB testing it should be possible to indicate when we will have a clear herd?

In view of the length of time that has already been spent on the eradication of this disease it would be foolhardy to hazard a guess as to when TB will be finally eradicated but, as I have assured the House, with the present programme and a new impetus given to the eradication programme we will be able to show significant progress in this regard in a reasonable time.

Will the Minister confirm that some herds have not been tested since 1983 in the annual herd testing programme?

I am not quite certain if it goes back as far as 1983, but certainly some herds have not been tested for up to two years. We hope this situation will not arise again and that there will be annual round testing and a more determined and vigorous effort to eradicate this disease finally.