Pádraic McCormack
Question:112 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total amount of travelling expenses paid for inspection of cattle and sheep under each scheme for each of the years from 1988 to 1993.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Officers.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:113 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the duties of officers when not on field duties.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:114 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of days worked on field duties from 1 January 1994 to 31 March 1994; and the average worked per officer.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:115 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total amount of days worked on field duties in 1993; the average number of days on field duties per officer in full-time service in the livestock section; the total number of days and the average number worked per officer on temporary transfer to this section of his Department.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:116 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of agricultural officers and higher agricultural officers in the livestock section of his Department and the number of transfer from other sections in 1993 working on livestock schemes excluding officers on angel dust duty.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 116, inclusive, together.
The number of agricultural officers and higher agricultural officers engaged on livestock field duties is 169. The number of officers on temporary transfer from other sections to the livestock section in 1993 was 31, excluding officers on duties related to clenbuterol.
The total number of days worked by permanent officers in the livestock section on field inspection duties in 1993 was 13,950 man-days, and the average number of days worked was 77 man-days. The figures for staff on temporary transfer were 930 and 30 man-days, respectively.
The total number of days worked on field inspection from 1 January 1994 to 31 March 1994 was 1,432 man-days and the average worked per officer was 8.5 man-days. During this period ewe premium-sheep headage schemes had not commenced. The only field inspections being carried out at this time were on special beef premium and suckler cow applicants, November-December 1993 applicants.
The duties of agricultural officers include duties other than carrying out field inspections. Staff are required to spend time familiarising themselves with the terms and conditions of the various schemes and with any changes which may occur from year to year. These officers also carry out office duties in preparing for field inspections and in certain cases prepare reports for further assessment by supervisory officers. In addition, during certain periods of the year staff may be required to carry out duties in other areas of my Department's work for example in meat factories.
The total travelling and subsistence expenses paid for inspection of cattle and sheep for each of the years from 1988 to 1993 is as follows: 1988, £817,532; 1989, £777,341; 1990, £538,473; 1991, £691,925; 1992, £610,841 and 1993, £616,038. It is not possible to give a break-down of expenses under each of the schemes.