139 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, made in the organisation and administration of a service for obtaining and assessing information in zoonotic diseases; and the number of people in his Department engaged in this work. [6580/96]

The Food Safety Advisory Board, which I established last year, is required under its Establishment Order to organise and administer services for obtaining and assessing information on zoonotic diseases. I am aware that the board has been considering how best to deal with these issues and that it will be the subject of discussions between representatives of the board and officials of my Department in the near future.

My Department has under consideration a national disease surveillance centre. The role of the Food Safety Advisory Board in regard to zoonotic diseases will be taken into account in arriving at decisions at this centre.

Meanwhile, my Department has also been assisting the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the preparation of the information to be supplied under EU Directive 92/117 on zoonotic diseases. This is now an ongoing requirement.