244 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork is expected to fund an additional TB reactor test. [3459/97]

The herd of the person named is contiguous to three reactor herds. In the interest of disease control and prevention it is necessary to test all herds which are contiguous to restricted herds. The herd referred to is scheduled for a contiguous herd test this week. As this will be the first herd test of the year the herdowner is responsible for payment in accordance with the new testing arrangements.