Teagasc advisory staff could slump to 200

BY the end of 2014, only 200 Teagasc advisers may be left to do the work handled by 405 at the end of 2008, according to a stark warning from the organisation’s director on the effects of public service cutbacks and early retirements.

Professor Gerry Boyle has told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that Teagasc currently depends on 271 permanent advisers working in local area offices, but has maintained the number of paid clients at about 44,000.

He revealed that while there is considerable pressure on the advisory service in all areas, the pattern of retirement is having a particular impact in some areas, including east Cork, west Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and Kilkenny, which are among the most commercial farming areas in the country.