asked the Minister for Agriculture if any estimate has been made of the percentage of students who having attended residential agricultural colleges return home to remain permanently at work on the land as farmers or farm workers; and, if so, if he will state the percentage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Students of Agricultural Colleges.
Mr. Walsh
Statistics on which such an estimate could be made are not available. A considerable proportion of the students who have attended courses at residential agricultural schools and colleges in recent years have taken up agricultural occupations other than work on their home farms or have proceeded to further studies at the universities.
Since October, 1950, the agricultural school at Athenry, County Galway, has been reserved for short courses of instruction to facilitate young farmers who cannot spare sufficient time from their farms to enable them to attend a full-year course.