Fórsa has received correspondence on management proposals for the transfer of local authority veterinary services to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents council employers, outlined potential plans for the staff concerned to be transferred from local authorities to the Department in a letter to the union.

Fórsa acknowledged the implications of any such transfer on the members’ employment and said they will be given due consideration in any discussions with the employer going forward.

The union’s head of local government, Dessie Robinson, told the vets that the union would remain vigilant at all times to ensure that any new arrangements agreed do not erode their conditions of employment.

“Detailed discussions will take place on any element of a new agreement,” he said.

Local authority vets provide food safety controls, including inspection of all animals before and after slaughter, at around 600 food businesses that supply meats to retailers and establishments including nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and canteens.

They also support small-scale and artisan businesses, which contribute to local economies and underpin employment in farming and the agri-food sector. As well as regulating the sector, the vet service supports mentoring, support and training in the sector.