114 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has satisfied himself that the cattle owned by a person (details supplied) in County Cork are clear under the new arrangements for the disease eradication schemes; the assurances, if any, he can give that the cattle of the person's neighbour are also clear and will not spread disease to surrounding farms; the date on which the last test took place on the neighbour's cattle; and the plans, if any, there are to carry out further tests in the immediate future. [8321/96]

As I recently outlined in my reply of 16 April 1996 the herd in question was last tested on 7 October 1995 and found to be clear. The herd will be tested this year under the new arrangements for the disease eradication schemes. In relation to neighbouring herds I can assure the Deputy that my Department operates a rigorous contiguous testing programme on all infected herds to combat disease spread.