Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary surgeons employed in each district veterinary office; the cost of same; and the details of their job specification. [29520/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are 138 veterinarians currently employed by my Department throughout the regional office network and the numbers of veterinarians at each location is outlined in the table below.

In addition there are a further 16 whole-time veterinary inspectors (WTVIs) employed by the Department on a fee-per-test basis whose sole function is to carry out TB and Brucellosis testing.

Veterinary staff of the Department maintain the high standards of veterinary public health, animal health and animal welfare vital for Irish Agriculture. They play a vital role in the safeguarding of public health, the prevention and control of animal diseases, in the supervision of animal welfare standards and the certification of animals and animal products for export.

The 2010 salary cost of both veterinary staff working in the regional offices and WTVIs was €16,815,460. The salary cost from 1 January 2011 to 13 October 2011 was €12,912,032.