Significant concerns remain regarding the possible transfer of local authority veterinary services to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM).

Fórsa has been highly critical of employers and the sector regarding vacancies.

Notably, over the past six years, a substantial 25% of local authority veterinary posts have remained unfilled.

This stems primarily from the local authority sector's anticipation that the service would eventually shift to the responsibility of DAFM. Currently, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) contracts local authorities to conduct a significant portion of regularisation and inspection work on its behalf.

"Fórsa is deeply troubled by the prolonged vacancies in local authority veterinary posts, which have reached 25% over the past six years. These unfilled positions create a serious risk to food safety regulation and could potentially lead to public health emergencies," said Richy Carrothers, Fórsa’s head of the local authorities and municipal division.

"Despite our warnings and ongoing disputes with the Local Government Management Agency, little progress has been made to address these vacancies," Mr. Carrothers continued.

Fórsa corresponded with the LGMA on this issue last Autumn, highlighting the inherent risks associated with the unoccupied posts, however there has been little to no progress made.

A further longstanding dispute between veterinary members and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) regarding "professional added years" has resulted in instructions for veterinary members to cease all engagement regarding the prospective transfer to DAFM until meaningful engagement occurred with Fórsa.

In the wake of recent developments, management is now seeking collaboration between local authorities and DAFM as part of the “due diligence process” and preparations for the potential transition. However, Fórsa remains resolute in its stance, maintaining the instruction for veterinary members to refrain from engagement until meaningful progress is made in addressing the longtstanding concerns that are well known to the employer representatives.   

Fórsa has clearly outlined in recent correspondence to management that the request to engage with DAFM in the manner outlined by the LGMA would be “a clear breach of our instruction” to members and was therefore not permissible.