Framework may ease staffing problems at agricultural colleges
The aim will be to achieve targeted reductions in staff numbers, but it is envisaged that a framework for Teagasc, which is being finalised with the Government, will provide for limited recruitment on an exceptional basis.
This could ease staffing problems in the agricultural colleges – particularly in the privately owned colleges at Gurteen, Pallaskenry and Mountbellew, where Teagasc subvents the salaries of 45 teachers.
Deputy Paul Connaughton recently raised the plight of the college at Mountbellew, Co Galway, the only agricultural college in the west of Ireland. He said its current quota of teachers will allow it to accept only 50 of the 120 applicants for first year college places this year.
All public service organisations are subject to a moratorium on recruitment and promotion announced by the Government in March 2009, designed to reduce public service numbers and correct imbalances in the public finances. Where a post needs to be filled, the sanction of the Minister for Finance for an exception to the moratorium is required.
Exemptions can only be sought by government departments and offices after all internal possibilities of redeploying staff or reorganising work have been exhausted.
However, sanction has been given for 550 Department of Social Protection posts to cater for increased unemployment, and for 276 temporary posts for Census 2011 and various ‘summer relief’ temporary posts.
About 2,300 civil service staff have left their jobs since the introduction of the moratorium. Approval has been given to fill 300 posts by recruitment and 470 posts by redeployment or promotion. This has resulted in a net reduction of 2,000 posts.
Privately owned agricultural colleges are adversely affected, because the numbers of students attending agricultural courses has increased each year for the past three years. Last year, some 1,500 new students enrolled, bringing the total to 3,200.
