Veterinary Council welcomed six new Mayo vets to register last year

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) welcomed six new vets from Mayo to the register in 2023, and just last month, Ballina veterinary practitioner, Rachel Brown, was appointed as the VCI’s new President.

The statutory body is responsible for the regulation and management of the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the state. 

The total number of vets and veterinary nurses on the register nationally currently stands at 3,522 and 1,263 respectively, which is an all-time high. 

The council’s figures are growing year-on-year, which is welcome at a time when demand for vets and veterinary nurses is significant and continually increasing.

Niamh Muldoon, CEO and Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ireland, said the council ‘believes the influx of talent in the veterinary sector in 2023 will help to meet growing demand for veterinary services across Mayo and Ireland as a whole’.

Cognisant of veterinary recruitment and retention challenges, and with consideration of policy and workforce planning for the decades ahead, the Veterinary Council has established a Workforce Review Working Group. 

Speaking to the Workforce Review Working Group, Ms Muldoon said the council recognises that ‘veterinary recruitment and retention is a challenge in many areas across the country’  and they ‘will examine these challenges closely and develop recommendations to address these challenges’.

The register data will be analysed and a report containing recommendations on the factors impacting recruitment and retention of vets and veterinary nurses will be published.

Ms Muldoon said the Government and Higher Education Authority are ‘also considering proposals for additional capacity in veterinary places in third level institutions’. 

“The Veterinary Council plays a key role in the regulation of veterinary medicine education, ensuring veterinary education and training is benchmarked to the highest international standards. In the meantime, we are continuing to work with all of our registrants and our stakeholders in the interest of the public and of animal health and welfare” she concluded.