Ivan Yates
Ceist:123 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the scale of fees being charged by Teagasc to various categories of farmers; and the proposals, if any, he has to alter this.
Written Answers. - Teagasc Fees.
An efficiency plan for Teagasc identified the importance of increasing the earned income of the organisation as one means of helping them to achieve a balanced budget. Under section 6 (2) of the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, I recently conveyed approval to Teagasc with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to implement increased charges to farmers for certain advisory services.
The new charges, set out in attached schedule, came into effect on 1 November 1992.
The proposed advisory services and charges are as follows:
1. Commercial Services.
(choice of adviser/specialist/ researcher)
Charge to Public Corporate Bodies (Including Co-Ops), £250 per day.
Discounted Charge to Farmer Clients, £150 per day.
Added to these charges will be travel cost at 35p per mile plus the appropriate VAT rate of 21 per cent or 12.5 per cent respectively.
To avail of the Commercial Service a farmer must have a currently paid up subscription (£60 for the Membership Service).
2. Membership Service.
Because of the fixed nature of this service, involving an adviser designated by Teagasc, combined with a pre-determined level of service and the importance of having a service available to the widest spectrum of farmers, unit charges are discounted as follows:
Limited telephone contact (equivalent to one office consultation), £25.
Other elements of the Service £35, making a total (including VAT at 12.5 per cent) of £60.
3. Farm Advisory Service.
Pre-paid annual subscription of £120.
Because of the fixed nature of this service, involving an adviser designated by Teagasc, combined with a pre-determined level of service and the importance of having a service available to the widest spectrum of farmers, unit charges are discounted as follows:
Two substantial farm visits at discounted rate of £30 per visit is 2×£30 amounting to £60.
Other elements of the Membership Service, £60; (including VAT at 12.5 per cent) totals £120.
Basis for Advisory charges. (Unit Charges — excluding VAT)
Farm Visit, £50; Office Consultation, £25; (approximate duration 2 hours).
Travel, 35p per mile.