John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his policy regarding the closure and decentralisation of his Department's offices in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46639/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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On 15 July, 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 decision to close some forty offices of the Department was made only after a detailed study of the Department's operations at local level. Decisions were made in relation to the overall strategy and against a background of major changes in the Department's operating environment in recent years brought about by the impact of the Single Farm Payment, benefits derived from substantial investment in Information Communications Technology and significant reductions in the incidence of disease.

Insofar as County Cork is concerned, the Mallow AES and South Mall AES/DVO offices will be closed and the work transferred to a new office to be located in Fermoy. The Office of Public Works is in discussions in relation to this accommodation and staff will be advised as soon as a final decision has been made.