Alan Kelly
Question:689. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of WTE qualified entomologists employed by his Department as of 24 February 2026, in tabular form. [16508/26]
View answerTuesday, 3 March 2026
Questions (689)
Written answers
My Department engages in workforce planning to assess its current and future recruitment needs. The educational qualifications required and the relevant selection criteria are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis to ensure that they meet these needs. Tailored to specific grades, my Department's recruitment campaigns may invite candidates who hold qualifications in a variety of areas including for example, horticulture, plant health, animal health, animal welfare and food safety. With specific reference to officers employed in the grade related to ‘Entomology’ in my Department, as at 24th February 2026, there are no officers currently serving in the grade of Assistant Agricultural Inspector Entomology. While it is not envisaged that the role will be advertised in the near future, this will remain under review.