Vol. 375 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the non-essential services currently operated by An Foras Talúntais and ACOT he intends to abolish when these two bodies are merged next year; and the services on which he intends to establish or increase charges.
40.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will ensure a strong AFT-ACOT national presence in Connacht, based at the Athenry headquarters, County Galway.
52.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he expects that research stations such as Oakpark, Moorepark and Grange will be closed; and if so, what he will do with the assets.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 40 and 52 together.
The matter raised will, of course, be for decision by the new authority, which the Government has decided to set up, for agricultural training, advice and research. I hope to introduce legislation regarding the new authority in the current Dáil session. The following will be priority matters for the new authority: training for young farmers particularly new entrants to maximise the benefits available through the advisory service; concentration on the post-farmgate stages of food production; development of the integrated food research centre, combining the relevant scientific staff and resources of AFT and IIRS to service the food industry; securing greater involvement and participation, including financial, from commercial agriculture and food sector.
