€4m building opens at agriculture and horticulture education college

A NEW €4 million state-of-the-art education building was officially opened at Kildalton College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, yesterday by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith.

He said the opening was “a significant step in the development of agricultural education in Ireland and a clear demonstration of Teagasc’s leading role as an education provider to the agriculture and food sector”.

The new facility incorporates a lecture theatre, classrooms, laboratories, library and a range of student recreation facilities.

Kildalton College has been operating since 1971 and has a long tradition in providing agriculture and horticulture education programmes to the farming community. Over 600 students now attend further education and higher-level education programmes at the college.

Teagasc has meanwhile launched a new education structure that incorporates three lead colleges and regional education centres.

Demand for Teagasc education programmes has increased dramatically over the past four years. A total of 1,577 students enrolled in agriculture and horticulture courses in the academic year 2009-2010.

The numbers participating in Teagasc education courses to 3,222, the equivalent educational output of a medium-sized institute of technology.

Teagasc has been seeking to rationalise the resources devoted to agricultural and horticultural education, while at the same time providing the widest possible opportunities for students to participate in its programmes.

The Teagasc Change Programme identified three lead colleges – Kildalton, Ballyhaise and the College of Amenity Horticulture at the Botanic Gardens, along with a number of regional education centres, as the most efficient way to deliver agriculture and horticulture education.

Teagasc says this new structure, combines the best features from both the college and locally delivered models under unified management.