Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 3

Written Answers. - Farm Development Service.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

132 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the post of district superintendent and the necessary positions of supervisory agricultural officers have not been filled in the Galway farm development service office; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that more than 500 first REP scheme applications are not being processed and that first REP scheme grants are being held up as a result of the failure to appoint the necessary staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10408/02]

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

A district superintendent is being assigned to the farm development service office, in Galway city with effect from 8 April 2002 and my Department is currently making arrangements to fill the vacancy at supervisory agricultural officer level in the farm development service office in Tuam. It is expected that an officer will be assigned to that post shortly.

My Department is also making arrangements to assign two additional supervisory agricultural officer posts to the farm development service offices in the Galway area, one in the Farm Development Service office in Galway City and one in the Farm Development Service office in Tuam.

My Department is aware that a large number of REP scheme applications have not been processed in the farm development service office in Galway. In the main, this is due to the action being taken by the IMPACT union in respect of the processing of REP scheme applications. My Department has asked the union to enter into discussions in accordance with the agreed procedures of the conciliation and arbitration scheme with a view to resolving this dispute.