Teagasc weighs up options for a central office
Gerard Murphy, TD, made the claim as Teagasc confirmed it is considering two options for the location of a central office in the Duhallow region, where it has three, based in Newmarket, Kanturk and Millstreet.
Teagasc is the anchor tenant of the Institute in Newmarket, named in honour of the late James O’Keeffe, who gave a lifetime of service to rural people.
He served as president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, chairman of An Bord Bainne, now the Irish Dairy Board, and as first chairman of ACOT, now Teagasc.
The Institute was developed through the combined efforts of the local community, the ICMSA, Newmarket, Kanturk and Boherbue co-ops and various state agencies including FÁS.
Located in a restored Georgian mansion, which was once the home of the Aldworth family and later a convent, it is the venue for various Teagasc and FAS training courses, is the headquarters of IRD Duhallow and the hub of various social and cultural activities.
A spokesperson for Teagasc confirmed that it has been offered two sites, one in Newmarket and the other in Kanturk, on which offices could be developed.
Details of the two options will be presented to the Teagasc Authority at its next meeting.
“It’s expected that a decision will be taken by the Authority based on the merits of the cases,” he said.
Deputy Murphy said his understanding is that Teagasc want to rationalise its office network in Duhallow and that one office in Newmarket or Kanturk will replace the three offices.
“It seems to me that it would make a mockery of the whole concept of decentralisation, if Teagasc, a state agency now based in the most vulnerable town in Duhallow, were moved to a bigger town, which has already been earmarked for a major decentralisation project,” he said.
Deputy Murphy said if Teagasc wish to build a new office, the James O’Keeffe Institute will facilitate it with a site.
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