Michael Healy-Rae
Question:479. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a Teagasc matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21231/24]
View answerTuesday, 14 May 2024
Questions (479)
Written answers
Teagasc operates as a non-commercial state body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Its statutory remit is to provide research, advisory and education services to the agri-food sector.
The number of permanent staff employed in Teagasc is governed by a delegated sanction framework, which gives the organisation discretion to make appointments within an overall pay ceiling. Teagasc also has discretion to hire fully funded contractors outside the terms of the delegated sanction framework. On 1 January 2024, Teagasc had 1,465 full-time equivalent (FTE) serving staff, of which 1,132 were permanent and 333 were fully funded contractors.
The allocation of resources to the advisory service is an operational matter for Teagasc. I am informed that of the 1,465 FTEs employed, 477 FTEs work in the advisory service providing face-to-face and digital advisory services to 130,000 farmers, including 43,000 paying clients.
Conscious of the additional demands placed on the advisory service arising from the CAP Strategic Plan 2023 to 2027 cycle of schemes, principally ACRES and BISS, I was pleased to secure approval for 90 additional farm advisors and support staff during the period from June 2023 to December 2024.
I am confident that the additional resources will greatly assist Teagasc to continue delivering a professional advisory service for the benefit of Ireland’s farmers.