Vol. 510 No. 6
168 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is only one field officer available at the district veterinary office in Naas, County Kildare, to cover counties Kildare and Wicklow and that, as a result, it is not possible to carry out a supervised de-population of badgers; and the plans, if any, he has to rectify this situation. [23496/99]
169 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has made an application to the Department of Finance seeking funding for additional field officers for the district veterinary office at Naas, County Kildare. [23497/99]
170 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of personnel based at the district veterinary office in Naas, County Kildare, who were involved in the monitoring of tuberculosis and related issues in the west Wicklow area on 1 Jan uary 1998: the exact responsibilities of these officers; and the staff complement, as of 1 November 1999, who are dealing with this matter. [23498/99]
171 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to increase the number of staff involved in the eradication of tuberculosis in County Wicklow in view of the fact that west Wicklow, with 8.1 reactors per thousand tests, and east Wicklow, with 4.3 reactors per thousand tests, are among the worse hit areas. [23499/99]
I propose to take Questions 168 to 171, inclusive, together.
I am aware of the limited staff resources available at technical agricultural officer, TAO, level to carry out TB eradication and wildlife investigation duties at my Department's district veterinary office in Naas, County Kildare.
On 1 January 1998, a total of two officers, based at Naas DVO were involved in TB monitoring duties in West Wicklow, one in south west Wicklow and south Kildare, the other officer in north west Wicklow and north Kildare. It is estimated that one officer's time was spent on West Wicklow's disease problems.
As at 1 November 1999, it is estimated that two-thirds of one officer's time is spent on west Wicklow's disease problems. The duties involve arranging, tagging and removing reactors, supervising disinfecting of premises following removal of reactors, obtaining the names of contiguous herdowners and visiting livestock marts.
My Department keeps its procedures and its deployment of staff at all offices under its control, under ongoing review with the aim of insuring the best possible service to its farming clients.
My Department operates within the strict Government policy on Civil Service numbers. An additional TAO will shortly be assigned to Naas DVO and this will provide an opportunity for local management to review resources in the areas concerned.
