Thurles Information

North Tipperary Deputy Noel Coonan TD has moved to allay concerns concerning the transfer of staff from the Tipperary Veterinary Office to the Garda Vetting Unit, by saying that a front-line presence will remain in the local DVO including a counter service and the office will remain open for business.

Speaking to Thurles.Info today the deputy stated, “I contacted Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney seeking clarification about future staffing at the DVO and I also expressed the concerns of Tipperary farmers who are understandably anxious about this issue. In response, Minister Coveney has issued me with the following reply:-

“The Department is currently reviewing the administrative support for its 16 District Veterinary Office and in particular, the centralisation of this support in one or more centralised office(s). Centralising administrative procedures would enable the Department to reduce the number of administrative staff it requires to support District Veterinary Office operations and reduce the cost of providing its services.

The administrative functions for Cork have been recently centralised in Cork city and the administrative functions in the Limerick DVO will shortly be transferred to Naas. 

The centralisation of administrative functions in other regional offices will be considered in light of the availability of opportunities to redeploy the staff concerned to support other critical public services. 

There are no plans to transfer the veterinary service out of the Tipperary office or to close the office, which will continue to be available to the public. Administrative staff are moving to the Garda Vetting Unit in Tipperary town, but a full front-line presence will be maintained in the local Tipperary DVO, including counter service – the office will remain open for business.”

The Tipperary Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) & The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have both called for the introduction of compulsory micro-chipping of dogs & where necessary forensic testing. Their calls come in light of a number of extremely distressing dog attacks on sheep herds, over the Christmas season.

ICSA sheep committee chairman Mr Paul Brady has stated; “There has been a worrying number of horrific incidents of dogs killing and seriously injuring sheep, including pregnant ewes, in recent weeks.  Apart from the pain and stress inflicted on these animals, each attacks represents serious distress and financial loss to farmers. The ICSA see this problem as the only solution to a highly emotive and distressing rural problem.  We are confident that those who truly value their pets and working dogs will see this as a progressive initiative, designed to safeguard dogs and prevent distress, injury and death, while also bringing our current law into line with existing law in Northern Ireland, where presently all dogs must be micro-chipped.”

The Irish Farmers’ Association have stated that Gardaí and Dog Wardens should be now given emergency powers to confiscate animals believed to be involved in sheep kills. The Association says thousands of euro have been lost to the farming community here in the Midlands and West of Ireland over Christmas because of attacks by, in some cases, unlicensed dogs travelling in packs. They have called on the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D. to allow Gardaí the authority to remove suspected animals, for forensic testing.

The IFA’s National Sheep Chairman, Mr James Murphy has stated that he is taking calls on a frequent basis from sheep farmers around Ireland who have suffered huge losses from such dog attacks.