Funding for research vital, says SF

Adequate funding must be made available for agricultural research so that farmers are equipped to cope with the changes and opportunities arising within the reformed Common Agricultural Policy, according to Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture and food Martin Ferris.

He told the Dáil that from an agricultural perspective, the most striking thing about the Estimates is the ongoing failure to adequately fund Teagasc.

“There is little point in the department advising farmers that they should be moving into new production systems if the necessary research and technical information is not available.”