Vol. 423 No. 4
175 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when he will start recruiting agriculture officers; the number of vacancies which are involved; and if he will outline the duties and responsibility requirements for these positions.
The Civil Service Commission has advertised a competition for agricultural officers with closing date of 17 September 1992. Applications are being processed at present. The number of posts to be filled will be determined by the work situation in this Department in the next few years.
Agricultural officers are the technical staff employed by the Department to implement its various schemes. They must have a knowledge and understanding of the Department's policies in relation to these schemes and are required to ensure that the controls and regulations set down by the Department are adhered to.
Duties of the grade range from supervision of slaughtering and production in meat plants, advising farmers with regard to disease control and checking that claims submitted under the farm development schemes and livestock schemes are correct. Other duties involve cereal, grass and potato seed certification.
