John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 757: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of abattoirs and processing plants in County Mayo prior to the setting up of the Food Safety Authority; the number of veterinary inspectors that were employed to carry out inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23329/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland was established in 1999.

According to my Department's records, in total there were 32 approved abattoirs in Co Mayo in 1998. However my Department's responsibility extended only to the supervision of the larger export approved plants of which there were 3 in 1998, all approved for slaughter.

Those abattoirs that slaughtered not more than 1,000 livestock units per annum, operated under the supervision of the local authority. It is understood that there were there were 29 such local abattoirs in 1998 as well as retail butchers and small meat processing establishments were also required to be registered with the local Health Board.

In 1998 there were 3 Veterinary Inspectors employed by my Department to supervise the 3 meat plants that were operating under Departmental control. A panel of temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) was in place and they carried out inspections on a contract-for-service basis on behalf of my Department

It is understood that in 1998 Mayo County Council employed 1 Veterinary Inspector. The council also used the services of 6 TVIs. TVIs are private veterinary inspectors who carry out certain tasks as required on behalf of a competent authority.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 758: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of abattoirs and processing plants in County Mayo; the number of veterinary inspectors employed to carry out inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the supervision of 7 larger meat plants in Mayo of which 4 are approved for slaughter. There are also 25 meat plants operating under local authority supervision in Mayo. A total of 16 of these plants are approved for slaughter. The criteria which determine whether a plant falls within the remit of either my Department or the local authority are set out in the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2009 – S.I. No. 432/2009.

My Department employs 5 Veterinary Inspectors who supervise the 7 plants that are under Departmental control. My Department also draws on a contract-for-service basis on a pool of 76 Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs). TVIs are private veterinarians who carry out certain duties on behalf of a competent authority. It is understood that Mayo County Council employs 3 Veterinary Inspectors. They are assisted in their meat inspection duties by 2 TVIs.