Veterinary Services

685. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pharmacies, vets and merchants participating in the national veterinary prescription system; the number of prescriptions processed each month by pharmacies, vets and merchants since the beginning of 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49746/26]

686. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had any engagement with the Minister for Health regarding the operation of the national veterinary prescription system pharmacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49747/26]

390. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the current position of veterinary nurses’ pay and working conditions will be reviewed as part of his Departments Budget 2027 negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48708/26]

269. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if she has conducted an assessment of pharmacies following the introduction of the NVPS mandatory veterinary prescriptions for animal antiparasitic products, if its having an impact on pharmacy incomes and operation and if any pharmacies have ceased dispensing animal antiparasitic products as a result; and if she will make a statement on …

270. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of pharmacies participating in the National Veterinary Prescription System (NVPS); the number of prescriptions processed each month by pharmacies since the beginning of 2026, in tabular form; if any pharmacies have withdrawn from dispensing animal antiparasitic products since the beginning of 2026; if she has engaged with the M…

1478. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will explore the introduction of a specialised financial scheme or emergency voucher initiative for private veterinary practices to offset the costs of treating and stabilising wild animal casualties; if his attention has been drawn to instances of wildlife turned away or prematurely euthanised due …

160. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the veterinary course at Kildalton College will have its first intake of students in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34804/26]

721. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he or his Department has engaged with representative bodies or the Veterinary Council of Ireland regarding workforce sustainability challenges in the veterinary nursing profession, including recruitment and retention difficulties; and if so, the outcome of those engagements; and if he will make a statement o…

722. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessment that has been made of the potential impact of staffing shortages in veterinary nursing on animal welfare, veterinary service capacity, and the viability of practices, including in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32838/26]

723. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to undertaking or supporting a review of workforce sustainability in the veterinary sector, including training pathways, retention challenges, and long term service capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32839/26]

645. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support the introduction of salary bands for veterinary nurses (details supplied); and if he will support Government funding to support practices employing registered veterinary nurses enabling fair pay without passing the entire cost onto pet owners and farmers. [28022/26]

648. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE staff, by job title employed by his Department that are based at each regional veterinary office as of 13 April 2026, in tabular form. [28429/26]

658. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data available to his Department on salary levels for registered veterinary nurses in Ireland; whether he accepts that current pay levels do not reflect the qualifications, clinical responsibilities, and regulatory requirements of the profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28683/26]

659. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the growing retention crisis within the veterinary nursing profession, including evidence of emigration and exits from the sector; the risks this poses to animal welfare and service provision [28684/26]

660. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will undertake a review of employment practices within the veterinary sector to ensure veterinary nurses are afforded fair pay, proper recognition, and sustainable working conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28686/26]

916. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider the introduction of paid clinical placements for student veterinary nurses, in line with other healthcare training programmes, in recognition of the significant financial and workload pressures they face; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28685/26]

261. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to examine the introduction of salary bands for veterinary nurses; if any consideration is being given to provide greater oversight of corporate veterinary employment practices to ensure fair competition and protect staff welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27717/26]

2186. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for an introduction of salary bands for veterinary nurses, ensuring they reflect the qualification status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23956/26]

2187. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department plans to include paid placements for student veterinary nurses, similar to those in the HSE, given the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23957/26]

2188. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department plans to formally recognise veterinary nurses as essential healthcare professionals within national workforce and mental health strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23958/26]

2189. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department has taken to provide greater oversight of corporate veterinary employment practices to ensure fair competition and protect staff welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23959/26]

2190. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department plans to provide funding to support practices employing registered veterinary nurses, enabling fair pay without passing the entire cost onto pet owners and farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23960/26]

2768. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health consideration will be given to the formal recognition of registered veterinary nurses as essential healthcare professionals within national workforce and mental health strategies (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24111/26]

381. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the concerns of veterinary nurses regarding workforce planning and welfare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23295/26]

515. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the concerns of student veterinary nurses regarding their placement conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23294/26]