Budget constraints force organisation to look at private college funding

TEAGASC director Gerry Boyle has said some of the urgently needed extra funding for the organisation will have to come from farmers.

He warned of major cuts in services, and said seeking contributions from across the agricultural and processing sectors could be examined.

The discretionary or non-pay resources which determine the level of service Teagasc can offer slumped from €59 million in 2008 to €46m last year — and there will be a further reduction of about €6.2m in 2010.