Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2005
546 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of funding allocated to Teagasc in the past five years; and if the Government plans to reverse the cutbacks proposed in 2002 to reflect the new improved public finances. [22240/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following amounts of funding, capital and non-capital, were allocated to Teagasc in the past five years:
|
Year |
Outturn |
|
€m |
|
|
2001 |
105.562 |
|
2002 |
115.531 |
|
2003 |
120.379 |
|
2004 |
116.830* |
|
2005 |
123.099 Estimate |
*The 2004 allocation did not include any provision for capital expenditure as sanction had been given to Teagasc to utilise proceeds from asset sales for its capital expenditure works undertaken that year.
The total funding provided to Teagasc by my Department for non-capital purposes has increased significantly in recent years, from €82 million in 2000 to €118 million this year. In the same period we also have been able to provide very substantial additional funding for capital development purposes. From 2000 to 2005 a cumulative amount of more than €45 million was allocated from the Exchequer, €31 million, and from retained proceeds from the sale of assets in 2003, €14 million, to enable Teagasc to implement major capital development programmes at the training colleges and at the research centres. By any standards these are substantial resources and are a clear indication of the Government's continuing commitment to supporting Teagasc activities.
