Agriculture Committee to discuss Teagasc educational courses and the rewetting of peatland and its impact on farmland

Today’s meeting will be split into two sessions:

Session 1 - (15:30 - 16:30) - Rewetting of peatland and the impact on drainage for surrounding farmland (resumed) with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Session 2 - (16:30 - 17:30) - Teagasc Education Courses with representatives from Teagasc.

The meeting at 3:30 pm will be broadcast from Committee Room 3 of Leinster House.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Cathaoirleach, Jackie Cahill TD, said: “At previous meetings, the Committee learned that the process behind the rewetting of peatland can be a precarious process – a lot of variables play a part in discovering the right level of water for the rewetting of peatland. Careful consideration is needed by all involved so that farmers and their livelihoods are not affected by possible flooding. A robust discussion is needed on this whole area and we welcome that opportunity tomorrow with the representatives.”

The Cathaoirleach added, “We have recently seen that farmers are leaders in areas such as farm plastics. But we all know education is key when it comes to change. New skills and further education will help the future of farming to thrive. The Committee looks forward to an update on educational offerings from Teagasc.”

The Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

You can view the meeting in Committee Room 3 on the Oireachtas website. More information can be found on the dedicated Committee Webpage. Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.