Vol. 196 No. 12
asked the Minister for Agriculture if in view of the urgent need to promote co-operation among farmers he will take steps to ensure that there will be available in each county at least one agricultural adviser, having a specialised knowledge and training necessary to promote and organise producer co-operatives.
10.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether there is within his Department any specialist advisory service which might be availed of by a group of farmers interested in working their farms on a co-operative basis.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Question Nos. 9 and 10 together.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society Ltd. provides specialised advice and assistance in the promotion and organisation of co-operatives, while the advisory services are in a good position to stimulate interest in and influence the development of co-operation, and have, in fact, given valuable assistance in the establishment of co-operative projects in the past. The services of the local advisory staffs are, of course, available to groups of farmers who may decide to operate their holdings on a co-operative basis, and my Department is prepared to arrange as far as possible for the provision of specialist advice when necessary.
