Teagasc sheds more than 400 staff since 2008, with another 140 to go

Teagasc will have shed 37% of its staff from 2008 to 2014, according to its presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications.

Teagasc directors Prof Gerry Boyle and Dr Tom Kelly told the committee that the organisation has already shed more than 400 staff since 2008, with another 140 to go.

The Teagasc staff number has reduced from 1,574 in 2008 to 1,158 at the end of February 2012. It will be just 993 by the end of 2014.

The Teagasc directors told the committee that this reduction is three times the equivalent level of civil service reduction for a frontline organisation.

In terms of external redeployment, more than 100 Teagasc posts have been placed on PAS Resource Panels. Another 50 staff have been internally redeployed to priority posts.

The national agri research body has also closed 36 of its 91 offices, transferring staff to save €684,000 per annum. The Kinsealy Centre has been closed, the lands sold and land leases ceased. Despite the 36% drop in frontline advisers, Teagasc has maintained 45,000 farm clients.