asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that his Department's farm development service office in New Street, Killarney, County Kerry, is grossly understaffed; when additional staff including clerical replacements and professional staff will be recruited and employed for this particular office; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the large number of outstanding applications which require urgent attention.
Written Answers. - Farm Development Service Office.
466.
The Department have under continuing appraisal the staffing needs of all the Farm Development Service local offices.
As a result, the strength of the field staff attached to the Killarney office was increased earlier this year from six to seven and it is intended to increase it further to eight in the immediate future. It is also proposed that pending a re-examination of the clerical staff strength at the Department's local offices generally, clerical staff at the Tralee office will provide some help with the work-load at the Killarney office.