What happens when an animal becomes seriously ill or injured at night, at the weekend or on a public holiday?

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) has invited veterinary practitioners, veterinary nurses, vet practice staff, family members of veterinary professionals, animal owners and farmers to share their experiences and views in a national consultation on out-of-hours emergency veterinary care.

The organisation said: “Whether you have sought emergency veterinary care for an animal, helped to provide it, or experienced its impact on family life, your perspective matters."

The consultation takes approximately 25 minutes to complete, and all responses will be anonymous. 

The consultation closes on September 11, 2026.

VCI has said that all feedback received will be carefully reviewed and analysed by the council.

A report summarising the consultation findings will be published later in 2026.

Staffing

At the start of the summer (Wednesday, June 16), the VCI attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food to discuss staff retention.

According to the VCI, its workforce report confirms that retention is a "significant challenge" across both veterinary nursing and veterinary professions.

However, it also said that many of the factors involved, including pay, employment conditions and career structures, extend beyond its statutory powers.

"While regulation alone cannot resolve every workforce challenge, effective regulation helps maintain public confidence, supports high professional standards and creates the conditions in which veterinary nurses can build rewarding and sustainable careers," the VCI statement said.

The VCI said it will "continue to work constructively with all stakeholders across government, educational institutions, representative organisations and veterinary professions to support a sustainable veterinary nursing workforce".