Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to discuss new School of Veterinary Medicine in Ireland and Farm Partnerships with Coillte

The meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be split into two sessions.

• 5.30pm – Representatives from Working Group for Reform in Irish Veterinary Education;
• 7pm – Representatives from Farm Partnership with Coillte Group.

Ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “The Committee has already discussed with key stakeholders the need for a second Veterinary School in Ireland to train more vets to meet growing demand for animal health practitioners in the farming and domestic pet sectors.

“Members will now hear from working vets seeking reform of the veterinary education sector on why we need to train more vets and how this can best be facilitated.

“In our second session, the Committee will meet with the Farm Partnerships with Coillte Group which represents forestry farmers who have partnership agreements with Coillte, the State forestry body.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.