Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the proposed closure of his Department's office in Mullingar, County Westmeath. [7790/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The impending closure of the Department's local office in Mullingar represents the final phase of implementation of an extensive review carried out within the Department almost two years ago.

Paramount to restructuring the local office network was concern to ensure a high-quality service to farmers and food business operators throughout the country. The new structure not only maintains a high-quality service but will, in fact, enhance the level of service available, while at the same time driving greater efficiencies and encouraging broader flexibilities within the new regional office structure. Through greater use of modern technology, the simplification of schemes and programmes, the reduction in disease levels, the uptake and availability of on-line services and an improved telephone service as a result of electronic systems, quite apart from the reduction in office footfall, the Department's public interface with its clients can now be carried out in any one of the sixteen new regional offices. Our analysis shows that many Westmeath farmers will have shorter journey times to the Navan, Tullamore or Roscommon regional offices than they currently have to Mullingar.

The financial savings from the reorganisation of the local offices are very significant. For 2011, the reduction in running costs amounts to some €20 million, along with a reduction of over 250 staff. For 2012, the reduction in running costs is expected to be some €30 million, with an overall staff reduction of over 400. These savings are vital to ensure that my Department stays within its allocated spending targets.