John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the district veterinary office will be retained in Carlow in view of the fact it is essential for the three exporting companies located in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42494/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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On 15 July 2009, the Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's Local Office Network. The plan involves reducing, from 57 to 16, the number of offices from which the Department will operate District Veterinary, Forestry and Agricultural Environment and Structures support services in the future. The sudden and significant decline in the public finances since 2008 has required all of us to examine our expenditure to identify possible savings and the Deputy will be aware that major changes on the programme side of the Department have been implemented in recent months. When fully implemented this reorganisation will deliver very significant annual savings of some €30 million, mainly in staff costs.

Improvements in business processes, information technology and communications will allow the Department to provide to our clients, such services as those referred to earlier, from the 16 enhanced offices set out in the plan. As part of the process, the Carlow District Veterinary Office including the Agricultural Environment and Structures Office and the Forest Service Office will be vacated and all services will be provided for the counties Carlow and Wexford from a regional centre in Enniscorthy.

My Department currently approves three slaughtering establishments in Co. Carlow under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations. The Department's Veterinary Public Health Inspection Service maintains a permanent supervisory presence at each of these establishments during slaughtering activities. The supervising officials are based at each of the slaughtering establishments. The Veterinary Public Health Inspection Service does not have any officials based at the Carlow District Veterinary Office.