Fears budget cuts could turn Teagasc into ‘zombie organisation’

TEAGASC could becomea zombie research and development organisation if some of the cuts now being mooted for its budget go ahead, it was claimed yesterday.

Professor Gerry Boyle, director of the organisation, said everyone accepts that difficult decisions will have to be taken to address the imbalance in the public finances.

“We in Teagasc have already taken some difficult decisions, with a far reaching change plan for the organisation agreed last March. The budget was reduced for 2009 by €13 million.