asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of applications for additional agricultural instructors at present under consideration in his Department and when decisions will be made on the applications.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Instructors.
2.
At present there are outstanding applications for three additional instructors in agriculture from the County Mayo Committee of Agriculture and for one additional temporary instructor in agriculture from the County Offaly Committee of Agriculture. These applications are currently under consideration in my Department and a decision will be made on them in the near future.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in practically every county there is an application for an increase in instructors? Is he further aware that these instructors are at the moment engaged largely on paper work? Farmers have to be categorised and the agricultural instructors have no time to go out to help farmers with the field work and draw up a plan so that they can get a grant.
I am not so aware. In the country as a whole we have at the moment 83 senior instructors between CAOs and deputy CAOs. We have 360 permanent instructors, 49 temporary instructors, 114 permanent clerical staff and 11 temporary clerical staff. The clerical staff would, of course, cover horticultural instructors as well. The country is well catered for so far as instructors in agriculture, horticulture and farm home management are concerned.
I am sure the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that all farmers have to be put into their different classes before they can get any grants. Two years ago the instructors did not have to do that work. They are doing it only since the farm modernisation scheme came along and they now have no time to do the work they were trained to do, namely, go out and advise the farmer in the field.
I do not think that is the case. In the Deputy's county there are 26 permanent instructors and four senior instructors.
We are looking for more.
Mr. Kitt
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree to increase the number of temporary instructors? Because of the amount of paper work now involved much of the time of these instructors is spent in the office. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the high rate of unemployment among agriculture graduates at the moment?
That is a separate matter.
All applications received for the appointment of additional instructors, permanent or temporary, are examined by the Department and if the representations made are found to be justified then additional staff are provided.
Is there an embargo on new appointments? The Parliamentary Secretary must be aware that there are up to 100 agricultural graduates unemployed. Have the Department any ideas about creating new posts?
We have only four applications currently and they are being examined.