586 Deputy Tony Gregory asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of licences he has issued for the snaring of badgers; his views on this control method of the badger population in view of the cruelty involved; if he will liaise with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to develop a more humane approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17618/08]

My Department annually issues thirty licences to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (one for each District Veterinary Office) to take badgers for the purpose of carrying out necessary research into bovine Tuberculosis in cattle and badgers. Bovine Tuberculosis has serious implications for both human and animal health in Ireland.

I understand that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is funding research on the development of a bait based vaccination against TB for badgers. I would be hopeful that should a programme of effective vaccination become available, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will no longer consider it necessary to snare badgers.