Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the district veterinary office in County Galway is being downgraded and being moved; where it is being moved to; if the move will result in a reduction in the number of staff; if it will result in a reduction in the number of staff available at the counter to deal with queries from farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2718/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2009, in line with government policy, my Department began a process of restructuring its local office network which reduced the number of local offices from 58 to 16 enhanced Regional Offices.  A follow-on review of the business processes and procedures and, in particular, the administrative support requirements, in those 16 offices resulted in the introduction of a number of significant changes to the procedures in relation to the implementation of controls in the TB eradication programme.  As a consequence of these changes and having regard to the significant efficiencies resulting from investment made by the Department in IT in recent years, the number of staff required to deliver the service in the local offices has been considerably reduced.

Where staff surpluses have arisen due to these efficiencies, my Department has engaged with a number of public sector organisations and identified redeployment opportunities.  Following the Government decision to locate one of the three Financial Shared Services Centres in Galway, this Department was requested to redeploy any surplus administrative staff in Galway to that Centre, which is located in the same building in Renmore.  Arrangements are in train to commence the redeployment of the majority of our administrative staff to the shared services centre on a phased basis while the remaining staff will be retained in the Galway regional office. 

My Department will continue to maintain a Regional Office in Galway, having regard to current needs. The changes in administrative staffing levels in this office will not negatively impact upon local access and services for local customers.  Department veterinary inspectors, technical officers and a small number of administrative staff will remain in place, frontline services will be fully maintained and public access for all of the Departments stakeholders will continue to be available.