Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
392. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to proposals to reduce funding in respect of inspections at meat producing facilities and the implications for the safe production of food (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11901/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a proposal for a reduction of funding through local authorities for facilities that are inspected by their staff and the implications of same for the quality of service being provided (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11902/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra434. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the discussions he has had with the Food Safety Authority; if his attention has been drawn to it proposing to reduce its funding for veterinary inspectors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11900/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra441. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if his Department will approve additional funding to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in order that it can adequately fund both its and local authority veterinary services due to the important role both play in local meat plants and abattoirs; his views on proposals from the authority to further cut local authority allocation for 2020 by approximately 13%; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the majority of the service contracts are due to expire on 30 June 2020 and to date there appears to be no agreement on funding to sustain the immediate or long-term future of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11970/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 392, 393, 434 and 441 together.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland. Responsibility for enforcement of food legislation is managed through service contracts between the FSAI and a number of competent authorities, also known as ‘Official Agencies’. These official agencies include the Health Service Executive (HSE); Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM); Local Authorities (LAs); and Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.
The LAs’ service contract is provided by the Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS), which comprises County Veterinary Officers (CVOs) employed by LAs with typically one CVO in the majority of LAs and between two to five in the larger LAs; these are supported by private veterinary practitioners (temporary veterinary inspectors - TVIs) engaged by the LAs. The LAs, acting on behalf of the FSAI, are responsible for food law enforcement required under EU food law at over 500 food businesses (including small meat manufacturing plants, slaughterhouses, cold stores, etc.).
In addition to food safety controls, CVOs also carry out functions for other Government Departments, including overseeing the enforcement of animal health and welfare legislation at slaughterhouses, on-farm emergency slaughter and the verification of competence to slaughter by plant operatives. LAs also have statutory responsibility in relation to dog and horse control, dog licensing and the regulation of dog breeding establishments.
Although the LAVS service contract funding is channelled through the Department of Health to the FSAI, the FSAI is independent in the exercise of its functions. There have been a number of meetings between officials in my Department and the FSAI regarding the FSAI budget and the LAVS service contract with the FSAI.
I am aware that due to financial pressures across the FSAI budget, FSAI had indicated to the LAs in early 2020 that it would not be in a position to provide the same amount this year that it had provided for LAVS in 2019. My Department recently advised the FSAI that it has increased its non-capital funding for 2020 by 7.5% (an additional €1.2m), bringing its total annual non-capital allocation to €17.172m.
In recent weeks, FSAI advised the LAs through the County and City Management Association (CCMA) that it is now able to allocate funding to the LAs (in 2020) closer to the amount it provided in 2019. Furthermore, I have been advised that a three-month extension (until 30th September 2020) has been agreed between the FSAI and the LAs/CCMA on the present LAVS service contracts, which will allow FSAI to fully review the service with the aim of finding a longer-term solution with an appropriately funded and sustainable operational/service model. My Department will also seek engagement with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), the LAs’ parent Department.
