Vol. 337 No. 11
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that no agricultural adviser has been assigned to fill the vacancy that has existed for several months in the Castletownbere area of County Cork; and the plans his Department have for the immediate appointment of an adviser for this area.
25.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the absence of ACOT staff in the Beara and Bantry areas in West Cork resulting in 1,200 farmers suffering considerable loss; and if he will ensure that this situation is remedied forthwith.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
The recruitment and deployment of agricultural advisers is entirely a matter for An Chomhairle Oiliúna Talmhaíochta. I have been informed by ACOT, however, that they have the question of filling these and other vacancies under consideration at present.
Would the Minister now, after six months in office, make money available to ACOT to employ extra staff? In an area in my constituency there has not been an adviser for the last 18 months.
I am not very happy that the Minister is considering this matter seeing that a vacancy exists in Castletownbere since January of this year. It is now mid-July. I would ask the Minister to make urgent representations to ACOT to see that this vacancy is filled immediately.
I will take up the points made by Deputies Walsh and Farrelly. This is not just a financial matter. There is a problem in ACOT at the moment in setting up staff schemes. That staff scheme is now practically finalised and agreement has been reached with the staff associations concerned. I would hope that we can do something practical about the problems referred to by the two Deputies.
Does the Minister know of the difficult terrain in the Beara area and of the absolutely exceptional need for an ACOT adviser in that area? If he does not know it, will he accept it from Deputy Walsh and myself that it should be an absolutely top priority to ensure that the appointment in that area is filled immediately?
Deputy Walsh has already brought this to my notice. I am aware of the importance of the vacancy he referred to. I will follow it up as a matter of urgency.
Is the Minister aware that hundreds of farmers in that area are awaiting recategorisation? After six years a farmer must be recategorised to get payment of any further grants. They are now being held up for the want of an instructor being appointed there. This is also the case in Bantry. Will the Minister expedite the appointments to those areas?
I will certainly do what I can to expedite the appointments referred to by the Deputy.
