There has been 821 PCR screening tests for avian influenza carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine since September 1.
That’s according to the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon.
In a Dáil debate last week, Minister Heydon outlined that there of the samples tested, 199 tested positive for some form of avian influenza.
The Minister highlighted that there has been outbreaks of bird flu in Carlow, Meath, Monaghan, and Laois.
There have also been outbreaks in Northern Ireland.
Last week, the Minister for Agriculture was also asked the circumstances in which a cull of poultry may be ordered arising from an outbreak of avian influenza, by local TD, Matt Carthy.
Minister Heydon explained, that he may pay compensation to the owner of a farm animal if he has directed that the animal or item must be killed or destroyed to alleviate the risk of disease.
The Minister said that where a flock is infected with a low pathogenic avian influenza virus, this does not fall under the definition of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
However, in such a circumstance, he would not order the cull of the flock and the question of compensation in respect of culling would not arise.
Compensation will not be payable in respect of any animal killed or any item destroyed, if the Minister has not directed the killing or destruction.
