Jim O'Keeffe
Question:11 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will confirm that the Teagasc proposal to discontinue the certificate of farming course in Bandon will not be proceeded with.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Teagasc Services.
Andrew Boylan
Question:35 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will reconsider his decision on the closure of the Teagasc office at Ballyconnell, County Cavan and the proposed closure of the office at Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, in view of the important role both offices play in the ongoing changes in the agricultural development in the county, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Enda Kenny
Question:63 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he intends to retain the Agricultural Institute at Belclare, Tuam, County Galway, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Nora Owen
Question:65 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether he has a report yet from Teagasc concerning the proposals to close down Teagasc research station at Kinsealy, County Dublin, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Seán Ryan
Question:98 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in the light of his predecessor's meeting with the board of Teagasc, he will confirm that he has no proposals to close down or relocate the research centre at Kinsealy; if he has received any proposals from the board to dispose of any land at Kinsealy, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 35, 63, 65 and 98 together.
As indicated to the House on 17 December last, the responsibility for the agricultural research, training and advisory services rests in the first instance with the Teagasc authority.
I will be meeting the Teagasc authority later this month for a discussion about how their services can be provided in the most effective way possible.
At the meeting between my predecessor, Deputy Woods, and the Teagasc authority it was agreed that the research centres at Kinsealy and Belclare would remain open but that the services would be provided in the most cost-effective manner. This situation has not changed.
Approval has been given to the Authority for the disposal of about 60 acres of Teagasc land a Kinsealy, which are surplus to the requirements of the organisation.
First, I should like to formally congratulate my constituency colleague on his appointment.
Will the Minister accept that Bandon is one of the major agricultural centres in the country; that one of the biggest, if not the biggest, marts in Ireland is in Bandon and that the certificate of farming courses run in Bandon have consistently had the largest numbers in the entire country? Taking those points into account, will the Minister agree that the proposal to discontinue the farming course in Bandon is absolutely mad? Is the Minister aware that the management proposal is to discontinue that course as from 1 April and, in the light of that, does he recognise the urgency involved? Will the Minister make it clear to the Teagasc management that the proposal is completely out of order and unacceptable?
I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for his good wishes.
I assure the Deputy I am well aware of the importance of the Bandon centre. In fact, there are several centres in the Cork area in which I take a special interest. I have brought the issue to the attention of Teagasc. I have been told that the Minister has no function regarding the detail of Teagasc courses and that the provision of certificate of farming courses in any given year at particular training centres depends upon the level of demand in the area. I have been given to understand by Teagasc that demand in the Bandon area did not warrant the provision of a course there this year.
I assure Deputy O'Keeffe that I am well aware of the issue and, notwithstanding the advice I received from Teagasc, I hope they will take account of the interest of the Deputy and myself in this centre.
The proposal in the management report made no reference to a discontinuation of the course this year. There was a proposal that Bandon, as a district centre, should cease to offer the course work of the certificate of farming from 1 April; it was not a question of a temporary arrangement. I ask the Minister to bear that in mind and to insist — whatever about the technicalities — that one of the most important agricultural centres in the country should not be deprived in this way. I appreciate that the Minister has as much interest as I have in this matter.
Will the Minister undertake to review the decisions taken by his predecessor in relation to the Ballyconnell office and the proposed closure of the Ballyjamesduff office? Is the Minister aware that a journey of 52 miles is now imposed on farmers served previously by the Ballyconnell office who wish to travel to the new office at Ballyhaise Agricultural College? Does the Minister share his predecessor's view that farmers have nothing better to do than drive long distances for advice? Is the Minister aware that the Ballyjamesduff office serves some of the most extensive pig farming units in Europe, is concerned with the developments there, and the pollution problem in Lough Sheelin which has been controlled? Will the Minister take into consideration the importance of that office and review the disastrous decision taken by his predecessor?
As I indicated to the House, I have sought a meeting with the Teagasc authority, which will take place before the end of the month. I shall discuss all those matters with the Authority. I have asked for a comprehensive outline of their programme of services to the farming, agricultural and food industry. Without research and development there is no future for the farming, agricultural and food industry. I await the details of that programme, which I intend to get before the end of the month, before making any decision.
I wish to remind the Minister that his predecessor visited the Agricultural Institute at Belclare, Tuam, County Galway and, in view of the value of the research carried out there he made a categoric statement as Minister, as distinct from a personal comment, that there would be no question of closure of the Belclare institute. Will the Minister reiterate his predecessor's statement and allow the only remaining institute in the province of Connacht to continue in operation in view of its value to research?
I am not fully aware of the detail of my predecessor's itinerary around the country——
The Minister would need a map.
——but I shall be getting details from the Teagasc authority before the end of the month.
Will the additional £1 million funding made available in the budget be used to solve some of the problems highlighted in some of the questions tabled today?
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister give his opinion?
I will. The £1 million is to provide a better advisory service to the smaller category of farmers.
Those whom Commissioner MacSharry wants to get rid of. Will the Minister save them?