asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has any plans to take over the payments (1) to ACOT from local authorities and (2) of superannuation which are causing great hardship to local authorities in view of the severe cutbacks in their finances; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Local Authority Funding.
68.
The arrangement under which the county councils made an annual contribution to ACOT towards the cost of providing the local agricultural advisory and training services was terminated on the establishment of Teagasc last month.
Prior to the establishment of ACOT in July 1980, the superannuation contributions of the staff of county committees of agriculture were paid over to the county councils who were liable for making superannuation payments in respect of those staff. This liability on the councils remains but only in respect of committee of agriculture staff who retired or died in service before July 1980. I have no plans to change the situation.