149 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Cork is not charged for any future TB reactor grant tests carried out on his herd. [3260/97]

A round test was carried out on the herd in question in November 1996 and no reactor animals were disclosed. Under the new arrangements introduced on 1 April 1996 payment for the first herd test in each year is now the responsibility of the herdowner. The 1997 round test on this herd is scheduled in the third phase, June-August, and in the normal way its cost will be payable by the herdowner provided it is the first herd test of the year.