Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
385. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full and part-time staff veterinary officers and inspectors, respectively, employed at the end of December 2018 by Civil Service grade and division; and the number of veterinary staff that will be operational on 30 March 2019, in tabular form. [10281/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra386. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of portal inspectors, plant health inspectors and administrative support staff employed at the end of December 2018 by Civil Service grade and division; and the number of such staff that will be operational on 30 March 2019, in tabular form. [10282/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.
There are over 300 veterinary officers in my Department, the vast majority of which are full time officials. Veterinary staff work in a variety of roles within my Department including food safety, animal health and welfare, certification of exports and provision of laboratory services.
The following table disaggregates this figure on a grade-by-grade basis.
|
Grade |
Full Time |
Part Time |
|
Chief Veterinary Officer |
1 |
- |
|
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer |
1 |
- |
|
Research Officer |
18 |
2 |
|
Senior Research Officer |
13 |
- |
|
Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
9 |
- |
|
Superintending Senior Research Officer |
4 |
- |
|
Superintending Veterinary Inspector |
37 |
- |
|
Veterinary Inspector |
199 |
10 |
|
Wholetime Temporary Veterinary Inspector |
9 |
- |
|
Grand Total |
291 |
12 |
My Department will have in the region of 230 staff available for deployment as part of its Brexit Response in such a hard Brexit context. This number will comprise new recruits, redeployed staff and people on temporary contracts.
All of the aforementioned resource levels will be kept under review and will be adjusted in light of developments up to and post-29 March 2019.
Overall, I remain confident that both the State, and my Department, will be in a position to deliver the services required in terms of both imports and exports at the appropriate time, be that at the end of March or any other point in the future.
