AQW 53308/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 22/01/2016
Answered On Date: 04/02/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the forecast shortfall in the number of vets in Northern Ireland; and how her Department are working with other stakeholders to address this situation.

Answer:

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development does not have any formal system for forecasting the number of vets required for the north of Ireland. I am not aware of any evidence of an actual shortfall in the number of vets across the profession as a whole here, or across Europe, where there is free movement of qualified vets between all Member States.