Vets deal leaves €4.2m hole in €30.8m plan

Proposals to reduce veterinary costs in meat factories (see page 1) were part of a Department of Agriculture/Croke Park Agreement plan to save taxpayers €30.8m, mainly by reducing the Department staff by 15.9% (cutting 616 jobs) from 2009 to 2015.

By the end of 2011, numbers had fallen by 356.

As part of the plan, technicians have been trained as far back as 2007 to replace temporary veterinary inspectors — and the Croke Park implementation plan for 2011 indicated that use of technicians would be implemented in that year on a pilot scale, saving up to €2m, with estimated annual savings on full implementation by 2014, of €5m.

Following the work-to-rule last Christmas by vets and subsequent negotiations with them, there has been a reversal of policy on replacement of vets by Departmental staff.

The projected saving in 2011 of up to €2m has not been achieved, because the pilot scale programme to replace vets with technicians was never implemented.

However, the reduction in fees paid to vets will bring about a saving in costs of €0.8m per annum.

Meanwhile, other elements of the plan to cut department expenditure by €30.8m go ahead, with, for example, a reduction of 473 staff projected by 2015 in the agencies associated with the Department (Teagasc, BIM, An Bord Bia etc).

A reduction of 181 had taken place by the end of 2011.

Another element in the Croke Park deal was the rationalisation of offices, with 42 local offices to be closed, and 400 staff redeployed, for estimated savings of €30m.

Teagasc also was reducing the number of its advisory offices from 91 to 51, which is scheduled to be completed about now.

The Department/Croke Park Agreement plan also includes review of work practices, amalgamation of grades, reduced sick leave (a targeted reduction in days lost of 33% over four years), reviews of procedures and value for money reviews.