asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the great need for a dispensary veterinary service throughout the country to help farmers on small valuations; and if he will state when he will be prepared to introduce legislation to establish such a service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dispensary Veterinary Service.
The Committee of Inquiry on Post-Emergency Agricultural Policy is inquiring into the question of veterinary services generally and, pending the receipt of the committee's report and recommendations, I am unable to state whether steps may be taken to augment the existing services.
Is the Minister aware of the difficulty experienced by small farmers who have to pay the "vet's" is fee, plus the cost of hiring a hackney car, sometimes for a distance of ten miles? The result is that the "vet" is frequently called in when it is too late. Is the Minister aware that a hackney car might sometimes cost as much as two guineas?
Yes, I have heard of such cases.
Very often the animals are too far gone when the "vet" is called in. The fee and car hire preclude the "vet" being called in at an earlier stage.