Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to hold separate discussions on education and upskilling in the agriculture sector, and sourcing winter animal feed

The meeting in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will be split into two sessions to hear from:

5.30pm-7pm – Education and Upskilling in the Agriculture Sector with representatives from Teagasc and the Agricultural Science Association, UCD;

7pm-8.30pm – Concerns for sourcing winter animal feed in the Shannon Callows area with representatives from Save Our Shannon Organisation (SOSO).

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Jackie Cahill said: “Education and upskilling will play a key role in the agriculture sector in the coming years as the industry adapts to new technologies and new ways of working to meet key challenges, particularly growing farm incomes while reducing carbon emissions. Teagasc is the State body tasked with responsibility for education and training in the agriculture sector, while UCD has an important role with it’s agrifood and veterinary training programmes. The Committee looks forward to discussing with these stakeholders their plans for ongoing education and upskilling across the farming, marine and agrifoods sectors.

“In our second session the Committee will discuss the matter of sourcing winter feed in the Shannon Callows area, which covers land on both banks of the river between Athlone in Co Westmeath and Meelick Weir in Co Galway. Farmers in the area have raised concerns on the effects of flooding of lands on the Shannon earlier this year which has increased their fears around a fodder shortage this winter. The Committee welcomes this opportunity to discussing this important matter with the Save Our Shannon Organisation, particularly their calls for farmers in the area to receive funding to source alternative fodder supplies and plans to alleviate flood risk from the Shannon. The Committee also very much welcomes Minister McConalogue’s announcement yesterday of funding for affected farmers in the Shannon Callows area.”

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

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.