Mary Wallace
Question:15 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the continued understaffing of his Department's farm development offices throughout the country. [11202/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Development Offices.
Liam Hyland
Question:43 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the continued understaffing of his Department's farm development offices throughout the country. [11203/95]
Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:57 Mr. P. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the continued understaffing of his Department's farm development offices throughout the country. [11205/95]
Mary O'Rourke
Question:84 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the continued understaffing of his Department's farm development offices throughout the country. [11204/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 43, 57 and 84 together.
I am aware that the work level in the farm development offices has increased with the introduction of the farm retirement scheme and REPS and my Department is continuing its review of the allocation of personnel in this area.
The overall staffing level in my Department is under consideration in the context of the Government decision of 6 June 1995 regarding Civil Service staff numbers. Generally, I will be keeping this whole matter under review in consultation with the Minister for Finance and other Government colleagues.
The Minister has indicated that cutbacks will be made in the day to day running of the Department. Will this not affect the regional offices within the farm development service which are chronically understaffed? How can there be improvement in the services signalled by the Minister, Deputy Yates, when he announced a charter of rights for farmers, if no money is to be made available and there are to be cutbacks in front line services?
I have not expanded on precisely where these cutbacks will occur, and I do not intend to do so now. However, the Minister is determined to put in place a charter of rights for farmers and will do everything possible to ensure that it is effective. I am confident he will provide the necessary resources, human and technological, to ensure full implementation over his term of office of the charter of rights for farmers. The Deputy may not like to hear this, but we inherited a situation where offices such as those of the farm development scheme were undermanned despite these programmes being in place. I am confident that the Minister will ensure adequate staffing levels and an efficient service for farmers.
The charter of rights for farmers was announced with tremendous fanfare by the Minister a short time ago, but when will it be implemented? Does the Minister of State remember that the Minister announced 100 people would be appointed to his Department? How many have been appointed? Was this just another promise made when all the media seemed to be on his back or is it the case, now that a dose of reality has set in, that this may not happen?
There are a number of other questions on the Order Paper today that address the question of the charter of rights for farmers and staffing levels. However, I am confident that the Minister will implement the provision in the charter.
When?
Some of the proposals are already in place. Others will be in place by September. All the provisions will be implemented over a period of time as resources permit but the Minister is adamant that during his period of office the charter of rights will be implemented. Farmers are grateful to the Minister for putting it in place. As to other staffing arrangements, any commitments made by the Minister since he came into office have been fully honoured.
Will special provision be made to strengthen the staffing levels in local offices, such as those in Cavan, where there is a huge and unacceptable backlog in processing applications under the control of farm pollution and dairy hygiene schemes?
I met representatives from Lakelands recently in connection with the problem in the Cavan office. I agree with the Deputy that applications submitted to the Cavan office were not dealt with expeditiously but this was due to understaffing. One staff member was ill and unavailable for work. I am examining the position in that office.