Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the district veterinary office in Wicklow town opened; the number of staff employed there; if all necessary transactions will be carried out there similar to the office in Tallaght and other such places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26493/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department opened an office in Wicklow town in 2001, the purpose of which was to improve the level of service provided to farmers in the east Wicklow area. A superintending veterinary inspector based in my Department's Tallaght office has responsibility for the operation of the Wicklow veterinary office. There are two veterinary inspectors covering the east Wicklow area, one of whom is based in the Wicklow office. There are three agricultural technical staff and one full-time and one part-time clerical staff engaged on veterinary work in the office.

While files for east Wicklow are held in the Tallaght office, the Wicklow office is linked electronically into the Department's disease eradication network including the cattle movement and monitoring system, CMMS, and the animal health computer system, AHCS.

The services provided by the Wicklow office include the issue of movement permits, CMMS clearance for abattoirs and provision of information on disease control. The Wicklow office also provides agricultural environmental and single payment scheme services to farmers and six staff are engaged on this work.