jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); });

Original Podcast with clickable words

https://tinyurl.com/2mt7edo5

Contact: [email protected]

5,000 badgers exterminated last year, but "it's not a sound solution".

5,000 broc ciondíothaithe anuraidh, ach "ní réiteach fónta é".

About 5,000 badgers were culled in the State last year and over 7,000 more were vaccinated as part of the Department of Agriculture's campaign to combat the spread of tuberculosis in the national cow herd.

Ciondíothaíodh thart ar 5,000 broc sa Stát anuraidh agus vacsaínaíodh os cionn 7,000 eile mar chuid d'fheachtas na Roinne Talmhaíochta le dul i ngleic le scaipeadh na heitinne sa tréad náisiúnta bó.

However, the Department says that the eradication of crime will gradually be phased out as it is not a sound solution to the problem in the long term.

Deir an Roinn, áfach, go n- éireofar as an gciondíothú de réir a chéile mar nach réiteach fónta ar an bhfadhb é i bhfad na haimsire.

At a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee today, June Fanning from the Department said that it is difficult to count the number of badgers in Ireland accurately - or guess - because they are secretive nocturnal animals.

Ag éisteacht den Choiste um Chuntais Phoiblí inniu, dúirt June Fanning ón Roinn go bhfuil sé deacair an líon broc in Éirinn a chomhaireamh go cruinn – ná buille faoi thuairim a thabhairt – mar gur ainmhithe rúnda oíchí iad.

However, says June Fanning, a recent study by researchers from University College Dublin revealed that there are around 90,000 of them.

Mar sin féin, arsa June Fanning, tugadh le fios i staidéar a rinne taighdeoirí ón gColáiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath le gairid go bhfuil thart ar 90,000 acu ann.

She also said that the number of cases of tuberculosis in the national cow herd had risen slightly for some time.

Dúirt sí chomh maith go raibh an líon cásanna eitinne sa tréad náisiúnta bó ardaithe beagán le tamall.

There were about 20,000 cases a year for a few years, she said.

Thart ar 20,000 cás sa bhliain a bhí ann le cúpla bliain, arsa sí.

There are many reasons for the spread of bovine TB, said June Fanning – the significant increase in the national herd since 2015, herd growth in general and the fragmentation of farms among them.

Is iomaí cúis atá le scaipeadh na heitinne bólachta, a dúirt June Fanning – méadú suntasach an tréada náisiúnta ó 2015, méadú tréad go ginearálta agus ilroinnt feirmeacha ina measc.

The twist in the story is that the badger is a protected species, she said.

Casadh sa scéal is ea gur speiceas cosanta é an broc, ar sí.

RTÉ News and Current Affairs

Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ