Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Oct 1992

Vol. 424 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ballinamore (Leitrim) AFT Station.

Edward Nealon

Question:

146 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to a decision by the board of Teagasc, at a meeting in October, 1992 to close the former AFT Station at Ballinamore, County Leitrim; if his permission will be requested before such a decision is put into effect; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the station is still involved in ongoing work which is extremely relevant to the future of family farming in poorer regions; if this work is to be abandoned or transferred elsewhere; and if he will take any action to maintain the station.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The structures and activities of Teagasc are currently under examination with a view to providing over the next decade, in a cost effective manner, the most relevant services required by the agriculture and food industry. An Efficiency Plan was drawn up by Teagasc and approved by the Authority. The plan, which contains a number of elements, is being examined in detail in my Department and in the Department of Finance.

A proposal to establish a forestry/ grassland project at Ballinamore with EC funding is being examined. The proposal aims to demonstrate how forest and grassland-based systems can best be integrated in farm practice. This is intended to complement the forestry measures contained in the Operational Programme for Rural Development, such as demonstration farm forests, forestry promotion and publicity and farm forestry training, currently administered jointly by Teagasc and the Forestry Service of the Department of Energy. It is not possible, at this juncture, to state precisely the future position of Ballinamore pending decisions in regard to the proposal.