asked the Minister for Agriculture if he proposes to develop veterinary dispensaries throughout Ireland and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Veterinary Dispensaries.
I see no reason to disagree with the conclusion of the Committee of Inquiry on Post-Emergency Agriculture Policy who stated in their Report on Veterinary Services in 1944 that the experience obtained in working the Veterinary Dispensaries Scheme which was introduced many years ago in parts of the congested districts indicated that there was little hope of providing an efficient veterinary service on those lines. I consider that the provision of a State-subsidised veterinary service generally through a dispensary scheme would not be as valuable as pressing forward, which I hope to do, with efforts to secure the elimination of serious animal diseases, such as bovine T.B., contagious abortion, etc.