Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 419: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the opening hours of her Department's public offices and public phone lines and if they close for lunch; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32046/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Customer Charter, Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005/2007 and the Customer Service Action Plan all make reference to the opening of public offices. All Department public offices provide a service during the hours of 09.30a.m. to 12.30p.m. and 2.00p.m. to 5.00p.m., Monday to Friday. The Departments Headquarters is open from 09.15a.m. to 5.30p.m. and there is a 24 hour facility to report animal disease incidences. The vast majority of the lo-call numbers are manned during normal office hours and have a facility for callers to leave messages after office hours.

At particular times of the year, for example, during the application period for the submission of Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme applications and after the dates on which payments issue, special initiatives are taken by my Department to meet customer needs.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 420: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the opening hours for the public offices and telephone lines and if they close for lunch for each of the agencies and State bodies that are under the control of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32061/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With regard to State Bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department, their opening hours, manning of telephone lines and whether they close for lunch, are operational matters for the bodies themselves.