Teagasc: Public servants need to develop practices to drive recovery

Public servants need to develop management and leadership practices capable of driving Ireland’s economic recovery, according to senior Teagasc executives.

Addressing a seminar on leadership practices in the public sector yesterday, Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle said his organisation can help ensure that increased agri-food output delivers tangible economic returns for the economy.

“The services delivered by the public service are in extremely high demand at a time when exchequer funding and staff numbers have significantly reduced. Teagasc has experienced a 26% reduction in its staffing level since 2008,” he said.

“Despite this it has worked to maintain its advisory service to farmers, cope with an increase in student numbers in agriculture and horticultural colleges, and maintain a research pipeline for the agriculture and food industry. The challenge for Teagasc is how can its leadership and management practices be developed to allow it to exploit, for the benefit of the national economy, the significant economic opportunities arising from a buoyant farming and food sector.”

Teagasc launched two programmes at yesterday’s seminar — leadership development and one in the area of management development.

Head of human resources Alan Phelan said: “The staff of Teagasc have responded to the radical organisational changes required to maintain frontline services to the industry. They have embraced the new working arrangements that have emanated from the closure of 40% of advisory offices around the country and new delivery models for service delivery required to cope with a reduction in staffing by a quarter.”

As part of the Teagasc People, Leadership, and Change strategy, two programmes have been put in place, one with the IMI, and one with Pathway.