asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if An Foras Talúntais will establish a research station in the Monaghan/ Cavan/Longford area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Institute Research Centres.
14.
The research work at present carried out by the Agricultural Institute at existing centres covers problems associated with agriculture in the counties mentioned including those associated with Drumlin soils. The institute does not, therefore, intend establishing centres in those counties.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in areas such as the Cavan-Monaghan area that have particular problems associated with a specific soil type, a research establishment should be located there seeing that the country is otherwise well covered by such establishments?
The institute has research centres at Ballinamore County Leitrim, Drum Boylan, County Leitrim, Ballinalack, County Westmeath and Ballintubber, County Roscommon. I think the centres provide an adequate service for the area mentioned by the Deputy.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the type of soil in Leitrim is completely different from that of the Cavan-Monaghan region?
That is so, but both Ballinamore and Drum Boylan centres are concerned largely with work on the problems associated with Drumlin soils. These arise particularly in Monaghan, Cavan and Longford so that the peculiarities of this Drumlin soil are being dealt with by Ballinamore and Drum Boylan.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that there is no other region as large as this without a research centre?
I do not think it is advisable to scatter research centres around the country because if you did that they would possibly be rather small in size and limited in coverage. Four centres in the general area to which the Deputy refers seems reasonably good.