asked the Minister for Supplies whether, in view of the increased demands on veterinary services resulting from emergency conditions, and of the wide areas of country which have to be covered daily by veterinary surgeons, he will consider granting an increase in their petrol allowance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Veterinary Surgeons' Petrol Allowance.
Veterinary surgeons operating in rural areas were granted an increased allowance of petrol as from the 1st July last, and I am not in a position to increase these allowances further.
The veterinary surgeons in the towns of County Wexford, at any rate, have written to me complaining that they are not getting petrol sufficient to enable them to attend to their duties. Unfortunately, this year the incidence of disease in cattle has been greater than for many years, owing to the prolonged dry weather, and it entails a big loss to the farmers of the State if the veterinary surgeons cannot attend to their stock.