‘No answers on low pay and high pressure' facing vet nurses
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has been criticised for his approach to what was referred to as "the growing crisis" in veterinary nursing and rural vet services by an Offaly TD.
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan said the minister’s response to her September 7 query on the issue offered no clear plan, despite repeated warnings from the sector and recent evidence presented to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The Irish Veterinary Nursing Association (IVNA) told the committee that Ireland is facing a serious retention crisis, with veterinary nurses leaving the profession due to low pay, weak career progression and unsustainable workloads.
Deputy Nolan said: “Veterinary nurses have been very clear about what is happening.
“They are paid significantly less, they have limited career progression, and they are leaving the profession in large numbers.
“Yet the minister cannot say what his department is doing, if anything, to address this.”
She added that it remains “completely unclear” what action is being taken beyond “tokenistic talk about consultation”.
In response to Deputy Nolan’s queries, Minister Heydon said: “My department will engage with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) on any areas identified in their report where collaboration between my department and the VCI can help to support and develop the veterinary profession in Ireland including in the areas of large animal practice.”
Pressure
The Offaly TD said the minister also failed to address the pressure created by bovine tuberculosis (TB) testing rules, noting that the VCI has stated that TB testing is an act of veterinary medicine that cannot be delegated to veterinary nurses.
She said this stance is placing intense strain on mixed practices already struggling to maintain out‑of‑hours cover and farm visits.
The TD said: “TB testing is consuming huge amounts of vet time.
“Rural practices are under enormous pressure, and the minister’s reply simply repeats that the matter is for the Veterinary Council.
“Farmers and vets deserve more than deflection.”
Talking at the Agriland stand at the National Ploughing Championships yesterday, Minister Heydon said progress on reducing bovine TB means that eradication of the disease in Ireland is once again possible.
He said: “We can't have anyone being lax because we can crack this, we are reversing the trend on bovine TB and we were setting ourselves on a path that we can credibly get back talking about eradication again.”
GP-style supports
Deputy Nolan added that she is increasingly concerned that the government has not considered providing GP‑style supports to veterinary practices.
She said that this is despite clear evidence that the absence of such supports is contributing to workforce shortages and reduced service availability in rural areas.
She said: “Veterinary practices are essential to rural communities.
“They are the frontline for animal health and welfare. Yet they receive none of the structural supports provided to GP practices.
“The minister’s reply gives no indication that this imbalance will even be addressed.”
Deputy Nolan also criticised the department’s failure to act on legislative amendments submitted by the Veterinary Council in early 2024, which were intended to strengthen the regulatory framework for veterinary nurses.
She said: “These amendments have been sitting with the department for almost two years.
“The minister says they are ‘being considered’.
“Meanwhile, recruitment and retention problems are getting worse.”
Deputy Nolan said she will continue pressing for urgent action.
“The veterinary workforce crisis is real, it is worsening, and it is having a direct impact on farmers, rural communities and animal welfare.
“The minister’s reply makes it completely unclear what the government is doing to address it. That is simply good enough.”
