§ Mr. Pattieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the veterinary staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are in the following age groups and how many of each group are still in the basic entry grade: over 60 years, 50 to 60 years, 40 to 50 years, 30 to 40 years, and under 30 years.
§ Mr. PeartThe age distribution of the Department's professional veterinary staff at July 1974, the most recent date for which the information is readily available, was as follows:
which 152 were 55 and over and 66 were 60 and over.
§ Mr. Pattieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average number of veterinary staff recruited annually over the last five years.
§ Mr. PeartDuring the five years to 1974, 113 professional staff were recruited into the State Veterinary Service, giving an annual average recruitment rate of 22.6.