Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agricultural technical officer appointments which have been made in Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of agricultural technical officer vacancies in counties Galway, Roscommon and Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42954/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Business needs in my Department’s offices in Galway, Roscommon and Mayo are met in the first instance through an internal transfer system whereby serving staff are given the opportunity to transfer to a different work location.  Under this system, three Technical Agricultural Officers (TAOs) have moved to the Galway and Roscommon Regional Offices and arrangements are currently in train to transfer further officers to the three Offices.  My Department is currently engaged in an extensive recruitment campaign for TAOs, and as soon as new recruits are appointed, the transfer of current serving officers who are seeking to move to Galway, Mayo and Roscommon will proceed.  The internal transfer system will facilitate filling of current business needs in these counties, therefore no new recruits have been appointed to these offices to date.