Teagasc to sell land, reduce services due to cutbacks
Leases will not be renewed at Leenane, Co Mayo (270 ha), Knockbeg, Co Carlow (40 ha), Grange, Co Meath (7 ha), nor on land rented from the IDA and Galway County (108 ha) at Athenry. It is also proposed to exit the leased farm at Ballydague, Co Cork during the next five years.
Planned rationalisation of the organisation’s administration, programmes and human and physical resources is necessary due to a €10.3 million (about 10% before pensions) reduction in its 2009 government grant.
Along with the reduction of 30% in the amount of land devoted to research, advisory offices will be reduced from 89 to 71 — six of which may be shared with the Department of Agriculture.
The new Teagasc will have a single animal production and grassland research centre at Moorepark, and research demonstration farms at Grange and Athenry. A new education structure involving three colleges and 11 regional education centres is to be achieved within two years.
College activity will continue at Kildalton, Ballyhaise and the National Botanic Gardens. The remaining four colleges will exit the education field, or may become regional centres attached to Kildalton or Ballyhaise. Warrenstown Horticultural College was already due to close, in June 2009.
Clonakilty College and up to 10 existing local Teagasc advisory and education centres will become regional education centres, providing the Advanced Certificate in Agriculture, short courses for adult farmers, and e-learning courses.
