To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline (i) any issues recruiting veterinarians in Northern Ireland; and (ii) whether he would support a business case demonstrating the need for a veterinarian school in Northern Ireland.

I am aware of recent reports from the local veterinary associations of practices in both the large animal and companion animal sectors encountering difficulties recruiting veterinarians, all across Northern Ireland. It is not possible to establish the precise quantum locally, but BVA data suggests that the vacancy rate UK-wide exceeds 11%.

While, to date, the Department has not encountered significant difficulties in recruiting sufficient Veterinary Inspectors to fully meet its needs, there are increasingly indications that it too may encounter difficulties recruiting further veterinary staff in the near future.

However, while supply may be one issue contributing to veterinary practice’s recruitment difficulties, there are a number of other significant issues affecting staff availability, not least the attractiveness of the salary package, job satisfaction and career opportunities available in veterinary jobs compared to the demanding work-life balance and stress levels entailed. Research by the BVA and RCVS has revealed that these are leading to real issues with retention overall, and within the practice sector in particular.

It has been suggested that the creation of a veterinary school in Northern Ireland would help mitigate both recruitment and retention issues, eg by reducing any net “brain drain” of veterinary under-graduates from here to GB; and by substituting some of the over 50% of the new RCVS registrants who are graduates of non-UK universities. However given the breadth of the existing supply base, and that high vacancy rate is UK-wide, it is unlikely that the establishment of a local veterinary college would act as a “silver bullet” against all the causes underlying the present recruitment and retention issues in veterinary practice in Northern Ireland, and beyond.

That said, I understand that both Universities in Northern Ireland have shown various degrees of interest in providing veterinary degree course here in Northern Ireland. This interest has so far failed to progress beyond the reality of the business case process, assessing the cost / benefit and value for money of the various options proposed. Should a business case in the future demonstrate that such a facility would deliver sufficient benefits to our local industry and economy, as to confirm its long-term viability, then I would indeed be supportive of the proposal.