Captain O'NEILLasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what Regulations are now in force for the prevention and suppression of sheep scab; by what means these Regulations are enforced, especially in mountainous districts; in what parts of Ireland is this disease most prevalent; and whether he will consider more effective methods for its eradication?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Sheep Scab (Ireland) Order specifies the steps to be taken to eradicate the disease where outbreaks occur. The procedure includes the isolation and continued treatment by dipping of affected or suspected flocks and the disinfection of lands and premises at the scene of outbreak. In addition, and with a view to prevention of the disease, the Sheep Dipping (Ireland) Order requires all sheep throughout Ireland to be efficiently dipped twice yearly at certain specified periods. There is also a special Order providing for repeated dippings of sheep on the Curragh of Kildare, a large tract of open country to which sheep are brought from neighbouring mountain areas. These Orders are enforced by the police and inspectors appointed under the Diseases of Animals Acts. In mountain districts special inspections of sheep are made from time to time with a view to such enforcement. As regards areas of prevalence of the disease, if an aggregate of twenty outbreaks be taken as a standard, there are five Irish counties, namely, Down, Cork, Wexford, Meath, and Galway, where this figure has been reached or exceeded during the past winter. Cork and Galway are, however, exceptionally large counties. The question of further action regarding the disease is engaging attention at present.