390. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the current position of veterinary nurses’ pay and working conditions will be reviewed as part of his Departments Budget 2027 negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48708/26]

Pay and conditions in the Veterinary Sector, including for veterinary nurses, are matters for individual employers and employees, or their representative bodies, and are determined through normal contractual arrangements and labour market negotiations. Government Departments have no role in the setting prescribing or regulating salary scales or employment terms for employees of private sector organisations, including those working in privately operated veterinary practices.