Vol. 329 No. 7
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will implement without delay the decision of his predecessor to locate a district veterinary office at Castletown, Mountrath, County Laois and to commence work immediately on the proposed new office complex at Portlaoise; and if he will consider relocating a section of his Department at Portlaoise because of its geographic location and of the urgent need to provide employment in Country Laois.
62.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the location of his Department's offices in County Laois; if a location for the veterinary office has been decided on; if so, where; the date on which the decision was made; and if he is aware of the general demand by farmers for such facilities in the area.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together.
It is my intention to co-ordinate all local office activity of my Department in County Laois into a single unit in Portlaoise where the Office of Public Works are planning to provide a new Government building. Centralised accommodation will then be available for the animal health, livestock headage, farm development and Land Commission services in the county. Pending the availability of the new building a decision was taken by my predecessor to locate a temporary office in Mountrath. The Office of Public Works are endeavouring to secure suitable accommodation there.
