asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has in mind the retraining of the Irish agricultural advisory service, in the light of entry into the EEC.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Agricultural Policy.
12.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what advice his Department has given to county committees of agriculture, agricultural graduates, dairy graduates, members of the Irish Creamery Managers Association etc., in the light of entry to the EEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what steps he proposes to take to adapt the advisory services for EEC conditions.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 15 and 21 together.
The question of reorganisation of the agricultural advisory service is being considered with a view to an improvement of its general effectiveness in the context of promoting agricultural development and productivity, as envisaged in the Third Programme for Economic and Social Development and bearing in mind also the possibility of the entry of this country to the EEC. This includes the question of any retraining and adaptation of the service that might be found desirable in relation to EEC conditions.
I did not hear the numbers of the questions taken. May I ask the Minister what is his attitude in relation to the rationalisation of the creameries?
These questions do not relate to the rationalisation of creameries. There are other questions in connection with this matter but the questions now being taken are in relation to the advisory services.
Is the Minister aware that only approximately 40 per cent of farmers get in touch with the agricultural advisory service? Does the Minister not agree that if we are to acquire the necessary technical knowhow to compete with EEC countries the advisory service needs to be substantially improved and can he state what steps he proposes to take in this regard? Will the Minister also give details of the type of retraining he has in mind?
The whole question of the advisory service is at present under examination. I am aware of certain inadequacies in the service at the present time, not arising from the personnel of the advisory service but, as Deputy Bruton has suggested, in the manner in which it is availed of. We want to determine by this examination how the advisory service can be improved and its availability widened.
Will the Minister not consider increasing the number of advisers?
That will be one of the questions that will have to be considered in any such examination.