Teagasc urged not to close research farm
National industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said SIPTU represents staff working at the farm.
But to date, there has been no agreement or negotiations with the parties involved on its closure.
“While short-term assurances have been given by management, the long-term future for our members is still unclear.
“We are now calling on Teagasc to rescind the plan for closure and to enter into negotiations with the union and our members on the future of Ballinamore,” he said.
Some 150 farmers opposed to the closure blocked the entrance to the centre on Wednesday and prevented Teagasc removing 40 cattle to another of its farms at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny urged Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh in the Dáil yesterday to go to Ballinamore and sort out the problem.
Mr Walsh said Teagasc has an annual budget in excess of €100 million to provide a research and advisory service to the agricultural industry. It must modernise that service regularly.
Ballinamore is a field station of Teagasc employing three or four people who look after 30 cows. That field station has not published a research paper for many years.
It is being streamlined. But the good news for Leitrim is that additional advisers are being appointed in Mohill, Manorhamilton and Carrick-on-Shannon to provide a service to the farming and agricultural community in the county.
Mr Walsh said the staff in the Ballinamore station are being offered appropriate and no less favourable employment.
Fine Gael Senator Frank Feighan said the reality is that Teagasc finds itself between a rock and a hard place. The Government has slashed its budget and the agency is being forced to cut services wherever it can, he said.
