Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The temporary veterinary officer funding allocation relates to meat factories. We rely on a panel of private veterinarians on whom we can call to go in and do work for us in terms of inspections. It is a system that has been in place for a long time. We have reduced the cost of temporary veterinary inspectors by approximately €7 million over the past three or four years. Last year, we renegotiated their hourly rate, which was reduced by approximately 5%. This year, we are completing a more significant structural review of how we operate our inspections systems in factories. This year, we have seen a great deal of evidence as to why we cannot compromise the standards in factories. We must ensure that the jobs that must be done by veterinarians are being done by veterinarians, whether they are in private practice or working in the Department. We must also consider whether work being done by vets can be done by trained Department staff. We have made some of that transition already. Some of the carcass stamping which would have been done by veterinarians previously is now being carried out by factories themselves under supervision. We will continue to try to find ways to reduce costs. The €18.8 million provided for is an estimate and I hope we will not spend more than we spent last year. If one considers the Estimate for last year versus the Estimate for this year, the figure appears to be down. The actual expenditure last year was €17.6 million whereas the Estimate was €20.5 million. This year's Estimate is down by €2 million. Hopefully, expenditure will be well below the €17.6 million mark also. Our financial people are taking a cautious approach. The structural review to which I have referred is what is called the lean review. We will get results in the form of savings in the coming months.

Under the scrapie active surveillance programme, the Commission adopted a level of testing for future years at a minimum of 10,000 sheep slaughtered for human consumption and 10,000 fallen sheep aged over 18 months. In 2012, a total of 10,963 healthy slaughtered animals at meat plants were tested between and a total of 10,340 fallen animals were tested at knackeries. A total of 59 animals presented for testing in knackeries under the surveillance programme. The same level of surveillance will continue for 2013. The Estimate is probably higher than the expenditure will be but it is a relatively small sum of money. It was less than €400,000 last year and the Estimate is for €800,000 this year.