Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
978. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the amendment in January 2018 to section 10.4 of the certificate of suitability for a veterinary premises; his views on the change; the cost implications of same; the reason there was not a standard lead time to such alterations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra979. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the number of licences that have been refused in 2018 (details supplied) due to the changes to section 10.4 of the certificate of suitability for a veterinary premises under the new rules set out by the Veterinary Council of Ireland, VCI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24913/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra985. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on issues being faced by an organisation (details supplied). [25048/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 978, 979 and 985 together.
While I am the sponsoring Minister for the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 (VPA), the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the statutory body established under the Act to regulate and manage the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing.
In accordance with Part 9 of the VPA, the VCI operate a Premises Accreditation Scheme (PAS) whereby all premises from which the practice of veterinary medicine is carried out must possess a Certificate of Suitability (COS). The VCI have reviewed and updated the PAS a number of times to reflect the developments that have occurred in veterinary practice and practice premises and also to reflect the VCI proposals for the future direction of the PAS.
Notwithstanding the VCI's independence on this matter, I understand that they carried out a review from mid 2016 to early 2017 of the PAS standards that applied to each classification of premises to ensure that they fulfilled the required function for patients, the public and the veterinary profession. I am advised by the VCI that this review involved a consultation period from May to September 2017 when stakeholders were invited to consider the proposed amendments and give feedback. The revised PAS standards were agreed by the VCI in September 2017. All COS holders were advised of the new standards in October 2017. The new PAS Standards have been effective since 1 January 2018.
I have been advised that there has not been any delay in processing applications as a result of the change to the PAS.
