Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
742. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the funding agreement between the FSAI and an association (details supplied) for local authorities to carry out veterinary inspections on local abattoirs continues past the current agreed date of December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35220/20]
View answerThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland. Responsibility for enforcement of food legislation is managed through service contracts between the FSAI and a number of competent authorities, also known as ‘Official Agencies’. These official agencies include the HSE; Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Local Authorities; and Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
Local Authorities (LAs), acting on behalf of the FSAI, are responsible for food law enforcement required under EU food law at certain food businesses with the controls carried out by the Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS). The LAVS also perform a range of other functions and services with/for other Government Departments. The annual funding provided by the Department of Health to the FSAI is inclusive of funding for the Local Authority service contracts and while funded by the Department, the FSAI is independent in the exercise of its functions.
The FSAI and the County & City Management Association (CCMA), on behalf of the Local Authorities, have been engaging for some time regarding the funding and effective delivery of the FSAI service contract. The current LA service contracts with the FSAI are due to expire on 30 November 2020. Both parties have agreed to work together to introduce a new, more efficient model of service.
Notwithstanding the need for a more efficient model of service, additional funding is being made available by my Department to the FSAI, on a once-off basis, in respect of the LAVS service contracts for 2021. This is in recognition of the need to provide more stability to the food business sector that might be impacted. The additional funding is subject to a number of conditions relating to the development of a new model of service delivery and related service matters.
On 28 October 2020, the CCMA agreed to the FSAI’s offer of additional funding and the associated conditions. The FSAI is sending contracts to the Local Authorities with a view to having them in place by 1 December 2020.
I am confident that the FSAI and CCMA will work constructively together to ensure that a new service contract model is developed in 2021.
