The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine is hiring temporary veterinary inspectors (TVI) for meat factories nationwide.
The DAFM engages Private Veterinary Practitioners to support DAFM veterinary inspectors in the provision of meat inspection services at its approved slaughter plants.
Temporary veterinary inspectors
Suitably qualified individuals must:
- Be a veterinary practitioner registered with the Veterinary Council of Ireland in accordance with Part 4 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005. (or who is in the process of so registering and is so registered before the DAFM completes this process);
- Meet the other requirements throughout the duration of their placement on the panel as set out in the Conditions of Engagement and associated SOPs;
- Submit a fully completed application form.
Those that do not qualify:
- Individuals, who have been permanently removed from meat plant panels arising from concerns in respect of their conduct or performance in accordance with appropriate procedures;
- An upper age limit of engagement to age 70 shall apply for TVI work for new entrants to the panels.
According to the DAFM’s job listing, the application process consists of “several” stages. It will offer candidates a position on the panel if they fulfil all requirements of all stages.
- Application
- Lottery
- Suitability assessment
- Offer of plan on panel.
Payment rates and positions
The current hourly fee payable for meat inspection services is €80.28. “The hourly fee is so set to take account of the fact that TVIs are paid on a fee basis for hours worked,” the DAFM said.
Currently, the DAFM is seeking veterinary inspectors for 37 of its approved meat plants, with just under 150 positions available.
There are vacancies in plants including, but not limited to, ABP branches, Dawn, Kepak, Liffey and, Irish Country Meats and Moyvalley Meats.
Two plants are seeking 10 TVIs, whilst most require a minimum of one.
Closing date
The closing date for the receipt of applications is 5 pm on November 19th, 2021.
The DAFM’s planned date for the lottery is the week of November 29th, 2021.
You can find more information about DAFM-approved plant locations and the application process on its website.
The application call follows its nationwide hunt for veterinary inspectors, as reported by That’s Farming last month.
CPD for vets and vet nurses
In other veterinary-related news, Duggan Veterinary Supplies claims that a new partnership will potentially save Irish veterinary practices “thousands of euros” in travel and associated costs.
The Thurles-based business has partnered with Improve International, a global CPD provider, and ISVPS, a global veterinary qualification provider.
As a result, Irish vets will no longer have to travel to the UK and beyond to achieve post-grad qualifications in the area of veterinary medicine.
Donnacha Duggan, director at Duggan Veterinary Supplies, stated:
“We have recently purpose-built a state-of-the-art conference suite and clinical skills lab for onsite CPD courses.”
Furthermore, he said the course participants will have access to the most up-to-date range of equipment, instruments and consumables.
Also, he added that they will not have the expense or environmental impact of travelling outside the jurisdiction.
This, he pointed out, allows Irish vets and vet nurses to gain a globally recognised certificate from the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) and Harper Adams University.
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