Vol. 496 No. 5
6 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will increase the level of funding to the private agriculture and horticulture colleges to enable them improve the training facilities and assist them to fulfil their function at a difficult time in agriculture in view of the fact that these colleges rely heavily on farm income to fund their development efforts and the fixed costs associated with the training programmes. [22482/98]
Under section 4 of the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1998, Teagasc is charged, inter alia, with the provision of educational services in agriculture and horticulture. In conformity with this provision, Exchequer funding for the sector is channelled through Teagasc.
Teagasc has made a submission to my Department seeking funding over five years to meet the capital development needs of the private colleges as well as the Teagasc colleges and some local Teagasc training centres. My Department has also received a detailed submission from the Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges' Association on the funding requirements of the colleges. These submissions are currently under consideration.
Will the Minister agree that we currently have a two tier system in that State colleges receive adequate funding while private agriculture and horticulture colleges, which 70 per cent of agriculture and horticulture students attend, have outdated machinery, no information technology and cannot prepare their students for modern farming techniques? Does the Minister of State agree that the Department and Teagasc have depended on the religious orders to pump money into these colleges, and now that numbers in the orders are down there are serious difficulties?
Numbers in the Salesian College in Pallaskenry are down from 107 to 79 because of the difficulties in farming, which means a reduction of £80,000 in the college's income. Some students cannot pay full fees because of their parents' difficulties. Does the Minister of State agree that there is a serious difficulty in this area? The decision of Teagasc and the Minister to reduce the 1995-6 contribution of £200,000 to these private colleges to £100,000 and to nil in 1997-8 suggests that the Minister and his Department have lost confidence in training farmers in these private colleges.
This matter is the primary responsibility of Teagasc, which receives £80 million from the Department of Agriculture and Food. Teagasc makes the decisions on what it does with the £20 million of that sum it devotes to training and education. The difference between staffing levels and equipment in the private colleges is a matter for Teagasc and the Association for Private Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges. There are seven agricultural colleges and two commercial horticultural colleges. There are currently 682 pupils attending those colleges.
Teagasc provided £200,000 for maintenance in 1996 and £100,000 in 1997 and it is understood that due to budgetary constraints in 1998 it was unable to give any money. However, it is for Teagasc to decide what to do with this money.
Due to the difficulties in farming at present the numbers going to agricultural college are dropping, and some students now at those colleges will have to accept off-farm employment. Will the Minister of State take this opportunity to encourage Teagasc to promote the learning of trades at agricultural colleges? If necessary, will he seek collaboration between Teagasc and FÁS on this matter? It could be a worthwhile initiative, as has been indicated to me by some of these colleges.
I agree that there is a need for formal training in these areas, and Teagasc is taking this on in many instances. It will also be addressed in the White Paper being prepared by the Department. The natural talents and assets of farmers should be used. It is very hard at present to get a handyman to do some welding or similar work. In this instance people could work during the day and then supplement their incomes.
Will the Minister of State look at helping the private colleges through the capitation grant system? I know they have lobbied on this matter. I praise the role of the religious orders in this matter as Deputy Neville did, particularly the Franciscans in Mountbellew, who run the college closest to where I live. In view of the importance of training facilities and the fact that there are two different types of funding, could the capitation grant be a way of helping the private colleges?
Teagasc will pay approximately £5.2 million to the private colleges in 1998, £3.5 million of which is for salaries of certain specified staff. That is a decision for Teagasc, but it has submitted a proposal for £9.5 million over five years which is being considered. In the totality of circumstances we will have to take a long look at this matter in order to give the most modern and economical training.
As has been said, many of the private colleges are suffering hugely from underfunding. The electrical equipment in many of them is falling apart and much of the other equipment and stock is over 25 years old but the colleges cannot replace it. If the Government was sincere about this matter it could earmark some of the money via Teagasc for the private colleges, which had to be done in the past. Deputy Kitt mentioned the Franciscan college in Mountbellew. I understand that it is possible to make a case to the European Union under a Structural Fund provision and that the private colleges may be entitled to funding under a particular subhead. Will the Minister of State tell us if this has been investigated?
Everyone is talking about colleges in their constituencies so I will mention Rockwell College in case it was not mentioned.
Will they get something?
They will get something.
Perhaps, if there were choices. Deputies should not push me. Given the applications for capital spending to update the colleges' facilities, much of which will be technological and information technology training, Teagasc has commissioned a study from the ESRI which is to be completed by March 1999. There is hope that there may be European Union funds available for farmers to be trained for areas other than farming.
Will the Minister of State give a commitment that an independent allocation will be designated to the private colleges out of the Teagasc allotment?
I will pass on the Deputy's comments to Teagasc——
Earmark it.
They are very able people.
They got nothing last year.
They got no maintenance last year. Fr. Campion of Pallaskenry would be a very good man to fight his case.
He is also a good adviser.
