asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, as reported, the Agricultural Institute had not sufficient funds to meet a claim for increased wages for agricultural and horticultural workers owing to the inadequacy of Exchequer assistance; and if he will make a general statement on the financing of the Agricultural Institute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Finances of Agricultural Institute.
7.
An Foras Talúntais has two main sources of income: (1) interest and dividends on the Grant Counterpart funds transferred to it in 1958, the present capital value of which exceeds £1 million; (2) an annual State grant which, under section 12 of the relevant Act, is determined by the Minister for Finance in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture and the Council of An Foras Talúntais. For the current financial year, the amount of this grant is £400,000.
The manner in which the income of An Foras Talúntais is applied is a matter for the Council of a that body pursuant of Section 13 of the Act. While, under the Act, An Foras Talúntais is free to determine policy on wages and conditions of service of staff in its institutions, it seems reasonable to assume that it would have regard to the practice, followed in similar State agricultural institutions, of paying 5s. a week over and above the current rates in the area.