Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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837. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent if known to which venture capital funds have acquired or are in the course of acquiring veterinary practices; if in the course thereof service to the farming community remains unaffected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41773/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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852. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number if known, of veterinary practices purchased by venture capital funds to date; if this is likely to result in a change in the availability of veterinary services to the farming community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42061/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 837 and 852 together.

My Department’s role does not extend to examining the funding relating to the establishment or purchase of veterinary practices.

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the statutory body under my Department's remit which  regulates the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the State in the public interest, as it relates to animal health, animal welfare and veterinary public health. The role of the VCI does not extend to examining funding mechanisms relating to the establishment or acquisition of veterinary practices.

A function of the VCI is  to manage the registration of veterinary premises. A Certificate Of Suitability (COS) issued by the VCI, attesting that a premises is of a requisite standard, is required before any veterinary service to the public may begin at and from that premises. The COS may only be held in the name of a registered person. The regulations relating to that certificate are one of the means by which the council regulates veterinary services to the public.

I am not aware of any evidence which identifies that different ownership arrangements of veterinary practices impacts on the service provided to the farming community.