asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his Department intends to participate further with the Cork County Committee of Agriculture in the provision of farm training centres at various locations in County Cork in addition to such centres already established at Mallow and Midleton; whether Fermoy has been selected as such a location; and how soon he expects a farm training centre to be functioning there.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Training Centres.
16.
There is no question of my Department not co-operating fully with all committees of agriculture, including the County Cork committee in the provision of agricultural education centres. The initiative in these matters lies with individual committees. As soon as the County Cork committee come to a decision on the question of locating a centre in Fermoy I will have the position considered by my Department without delay.
Did the county committee of agriculture send the proposals to the Department for a centre in West Cork?
Originally the committee were more in favour of providing a centre at the approved location of Mitchelstown because it was felt that students would be available from adjoining areas in County Limerick and County Tipperary (South Riding). In the meantime, however, the County Limerick committee have provided a centre at Kilmallock and the County Tipperary (South Riding) committee is in the course of providing a centre at Tipperary town. As a result it is now considered that students would not be available at Mitchelstown from either of those centres. The view was taken at a meeting in November, 1974, between the chief agricultural officers of the Cork, Limerick and Tipperary (South Riding) committees and the Department's district inspector that in those circumstances Fermoy would be a more suitable location for the centre. The Cork County Committee have not yet had this brought before them formally but are aware of the position.
There was a proposal sent to the Department——
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister communicate with me as soon as possible?
If the Deputy puts down a question I will give him the answer.
Question No. 17 postponed.