Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015
516. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding Teagasc; his plans to approve the hiring of further advisers by Teagasc; if he will provide funding for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31360/15]
View answerI very much appreciate the important contribution that Teagasc advisers make in providing advice and support to farm families. My Department has been actively working with Teagasc to ease staffing difficulties in the organisation. We recently secured approval for Teagasc to proceed with four priority appointments in the advisory service including the appointment of a drystock advisor in West Cork. New arrangements for managing public service staff numbers are currently being finalised, and they will provide public bodies like Teagasc with greater discretion over staff appointments. It is expected that the arrangements will permit Teagasc to replace staff as they retire, but strictly within an overall pay framework. Within the parameters of that overarching policy, the question of allocating additional resources to particular regions remains an operational matter for Teagasc.
Teagasc is also re-configuring the way in which it delivers advisory services. Actions include greater use of discussion groups, sub-contracting the delivery of non-core work and establishing strategic alliances with private providers. The primary objective of such arrangements is to maintain the strong focus of Teagasc advisers on knowledge transfer activities while also providing a scheme-support service to farmers.
