asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the numbers of agricultural science undergraduates may seriously decline owing to the fact that a large percentage of those who graduated in September, 1957, have been unable to secure permanent or temporary appointments; that, unless steps are taken immediately, such graduates will emigrate and their acquired training will be lost to the agricultural and dairying communities such as those of County Limerick; and if he has any proposals to remedy the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Employment for Graduates in Agricultural Science.
I understand that a number of graduates in agricultural science who graduated last year have not yet secured employment. Some vacancies are likely to arise in my Department in the near future which may lead to the employment of some of these graduates.
Apart from my Department there are many other potential employers but the advisory services operated by committees of agriculture afford the largest scope for the employment of additional graduates. Any application from a committee, such as the County Limerick Committee of Agriculture, for authority to employ additional instructors will have my sympathetic consideration.