TO DATE, the State has spent £1,072,552 following the inexplicable deaths of animals on two farms at Askeaton, Co Limerick. Of that, £405,552 has been spent investigating the unexplained deaths of the animals. This was spent on an "immunological project (£174,350)", "buildings and equipment (£153,038)" and "other expenses (£78,164)". The investigation is expected to continue until 1998. In addition the State has bought one of the farms and its herd at a cost of £413,700 - and also placed £253,300 in a trust towards covering "certain costs attending the purchase of another farm by the vendor". These costs relate to "the construction of farm buildings, herd-replacement and stamp duty". The Department has also leased the other farm, at a cost of £22,500 (for 1995) and bought the herd for £70,000.
The mystery began in April 1993, when the Department was notified about animal deaths on one of the farms. Shortly afterwards, another farmer in the area claimed he, too, was enduring substantial losses of animals. Examinations of the dead cattle revealed the cause of death as "respiratory or bacterial" but the reason for the breakdown in the animals immune system could not be satisfactorily established.
The overall investigation into the deaths of the animals is being co-ordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency, with the Department of Agriculture holding responsibility for the veterinary aspects of the investigation. Last October the Government bought out one of the farms and its herd, and leased the other, while also buying its herd. This was to enable a thorough veterinary investigation to, take place.
