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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Veterinary Services.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

222 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans he has to retain the local authority veterinary services and provide the necessary funding for local authorities for this service. [25863/01]

My Department is currently represented on an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of Finance, which is currently examining the best location in the longer term for responsibility for legislation which requires the services of a professional veterinarian. At present, in so far as the discharge of food safety related functions at premises slaughtering animals and processing foodstuff for the home market is concerned, each local authority is responsible to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland under service contract arrangements. The work of the interdepartmental group is ongoing and, when finalised, its conclusions will form the basis for decisions which will be made at Government level on the longer-term future of this service following expiry of the current service contracts at the end of 2002.

As regards funding, under relevant legislation – the Abattoirs Act, 1988 – each local authority was given responsibility to recover costs either partially, or wholly, through fees imposed on premises subject to inspection by them. However, since it became evident in late 1996 that many local authorities had to varying degrees not been fully discharging their statutory functions in this area – linked at least in part to their inability to recover the requisite costs from the industry – Exchequer assistance has, with Government approval, been paid through my Department's Vote. These ad hoc funding arrangements have continued in the era of the local authority-FSAI service contracts. In the current year, provision has been made for total Exchequer assistance to local authorities of £4.566 million. Funding will be paid in each case on the basis of certification by the FSAI that the local authority concerned has met its contractual obligations to that body.

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