Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1524. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which staff shortages at district veterinary offices have been recognised with particular reference to Kildare; if he plans to augment staffing levels to cater for an increased workload; if so, when such an improvement can be expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41703/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its business needs and utilises workforce planning to identify and address these requirements for all our locations.

Recruitment is currently under way in the Department, and vacancies continue to be advertised by either the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or by my Department's Human Resources Division. I am acutely conscious of the need for farmers and members of the public to avail of prompt and efficient services and all critical staffing vacancies are filled as soon as possible.

The Department’s office in Kildare currently has a total of four vacancies, and work is actively ongoing to fill these posts, and all vacancies in Local Offices around the country.