Thurles Information

In a joint public awareness campaign with the Department of the Environment launched this week, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have highlighted the responsibility of all dog owners to be in full control of their dogs at all times, in order to prevent attacks on sheep flocks and the resulting horrific consequences.

The IFA has also given a guarded welcome to the yesterday’s decision by the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to introduce mandatory micro-chipping of all dogs. The IFA state that this move by the Minister has an important role to play in terms of dog ownership responsibility, but insist that same will only be effective if it is matched by a comprehensive National Central Database.

The association has also called on Simon Coveney to ensure that there will be no increase in costs to current dog owners, inviting the Minister therefore to scrap current dog licensing, when micro-chipping is eventually introduced.

This public awareness campaign to prevent attacks on sheep flocks was timed to coincide with the 2013 lambing season. The IFA’s National Sheep Chairman Mr James Murphy has warned; “Farmers are in the middle of the peak lambing season, when sheep flocks are particularly vulnerable to dog attacks, especially during the night, let it be known therefore your dog, therefore your responsibility.”

In a joint nationwide radio advertising campaign, sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community/Local Government and IFA, there is a very clear and strong message being sent to dog owners regarding their responsibilities, pointing out how dog owners could be held liable, if their dog is involved in an attack on sheep.

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.”