Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the way in which further efficiencies and cost savings can be achieved in his Department; his plans to privatise the veterinary inspections of livestock exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48292/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department has made significant progress on the implementation of its ‘Action Plan’ under the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement and will continue to seek further efficiencies and cost savings.

Private veterinary practitioners are already widely used by my Department, particularly in post mortem inspections in meat factories and disease eradication schemes. Any proposal to increase the role of private veterinary practitioners in respect of functions currently carried out by veterinarians employed full time by the Department has to be considered in the context that the Department has sufficient staff to fulfil its existing obligations.