Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1563. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his plans for Teagasc to mainstream animal welfare considerations across its teaching and advisory services for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42209/21]
View answerI have asked Teagasc, Ireland’s Agricultural Training and Advisory body, to mainstream animal welfare considerations across its teaching and advisory services for farmers and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Teagasc continues to provide well developed courses and training opportunities for the farming community with a strong emphasis on animal husbandry. In line with the initiative outlined in Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, Teagasc courses will continue to evolve, ensuring that clear consistent animal welfare considerations are promoted across all its teaching and advisory services for farmers.
Teagasc is actively committed to developing and improving animal welfare across the agricultural sector. Animal welfare is an ongoing focal point within educational courses on livestock production and husbandry within the education and teaching programmes, and also within advisory programmes, activities and consultations with farmers. Teagasc also has targeted specific actions around animal welfare in their current Statement of Strategy which align with our National Animal Welfare Strategy, including the commitment to mainstreaming welfare considerations across all relevant research, knowledge transfer and training programmes.
