Frank Crowley
Question:147 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether Teagasc will drop the visiting charge to farmers in view of the hardship being experienced as a result of a drop in their income.
Written Answers. - Teagasc Charges.
Frank Crowley
Question:148 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he is aware that Teagasc have been a total failure since their reorganisation three years ago; and if he will indicate the number of visits made by Teagasc advisers to farmers during each year for the past five years.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 147 together.
Teagasc have not been a failure. They have provided, and continue to provide, a good and efficient service for Irish farmers and the agricultural sector in general.
Teagasc advisory services have been availed of by farmers as follows:
|
Year |
No. of Farms Visited by Advisers |
No. of Farm Visits |
Phone and Office Consultations |
Attendances at Demonstrations, Farm Walks, Meetings, etc. |
|
1985 |
72,000 |
185,000 |
140,000 |
94,000 |
|
1986 |
62,000 |
170,000 |
130,000 |
105,000 |
|
1987 |
64,000 |
140,000 |
290,000 |
100,000 |
|
1988 |
40,000 |
97,000 |
283,000 |
200,000 |
|
1989 |
31,000 |
81,000 |
285,000 |
105,000 |
The question of charges for farm visits is a matter for Teagasc in the first instance. Teagasc's view is that current levels of charges are modest relative to the cost of providing the services and the value that can be derived by farmers from them. There are no proposals to drop such charges.
It should be noted that, while there has been a drop in the number of farms visited, phone and office consultations have more than doubled between 1985 and 1989.