Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1999

Vol. 158 No. 18

Adjournment Matters. - Veterinary Offices.

Mr. T. Hayes

The Department of Agriculture and Food's veterinary office in Tipperary remains open although it has outlived its usefulness. The conditions in which people have to work are chronic.

There have been many delays but a definite decision on the building of a new office was taken three years ago. The existing office caters for people from north and south Tipperary who are expected to deal with queries in a room with the capacity to hold only three people. The staff are working in primitive conditions. They have to drag documentation up and down three flights of stairs, which would be considered unsuitable by the Health and Safety Authority.

At what stage are the plans for the new veterinary office?

Mr. Cullen

I thank Senator Hayes for raising this issue. I hope I can clarify the position for him tonight.

The delay occurred for a number of reasons: the Office of Public Works had considerable difficulty in identifying a suitable site for the offices; the lodgement of the planning application for the project was delayed while we sought the agreement of Tipperary Urban District Council to the provision of additional car and pedestrian access to the site via the adjoining local authority car park; and an initial trial archaeological excavation was carried out prior to the receipt of the planning permission. However, when the planning permission was received the heritage service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands required the Office of Public Works to carry out a full site excavation. This excavation and completion of the archaeologist's report took four months.

I emphasise that this is a matter for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. Such excavations take time and cause delays which we would all prefer did not occur. Certain issues have to be dealt with by way of specific procedures. I am glad to have the opportunity to put that on the record.

Following the full site archaeological excavation it was necessary to carry out a new site survey to ascertain site levels. The tender documentation is currently being amended. Tenders will be invited in the first week of May, with a contract being placed and a contractor on site by end June 1999. The contract period is for 12 months followed by a fit-out which will take a further month. The offices should, therefore, be ready for occupation by August 2000.

We appreciate the circumstances in which the staff have been working. I have been made fully aware of the situation by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Davern. We are anxious to move forward with this project as quickly as possible.

I trust I have fully clarified the position for the Senator.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 31 March 1999.