Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Meat Processing Plants.

Phil Hogan

Question:

222 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will make available the consolidated instruction manual which is available to staff in meat plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11938/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The formal instructions provided to this Department's veterinary staff at meat export premises are set down in a series of individual veterinary procedures notices and circulars which are issued on an ongoing basis. These notices, rather than a single consolidated instruction manual, are compiled and issued as the need arises to reflect changes in EU and national legislation or to amend or update previously issued instructions as circumstances demand.

Phil Hogan

Question:

223 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of full-time and part-time personnel employed by his Department on duties at meat processing plants; the financial expenditure involved in each year from 1995 to 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11939/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The number of full-time personnel employed by my Department on duties in meat processing plants in each year 1995 to 2000 is set out in the following table. In addition, my Department engaged from 550 to 700 part-time temporary veterinary inspectors to augment the permanent veterinary inspectors at those plants during those years. Part-time temporary veterinary inspectors are paid on a daily fee basis and are called on to carry out duties as and when required by the veterinary officers in charge.

The total financial expenditure for these years is also given in the table and comprises the cost of salaries, daily fees for TVIs, overtime, gratuities, travel and subsistence.

Year	Number offull-time staff	Expenditure (Rounded to the nearest £100,000)
1995	407	19 million
1996	394	21.7 million
1997	408	23.6 million

Year	No. of full-time staff	Expenditure (Rounded to the nearest £100,000)
1998	478	24.7 million
1999	479	28.8 million
2000	491	28.7 million

In 1996 and 1997, a shortfall of staff was identified in the meat processing plants. As a short-term measure this shortfall was addressed by the temporary transfer of staff from other areas for short periods. Additional full-time staff were assigned to duties at meat processing plants in 1998 and subsequent years.