24 extra places this year in agricultural colleges

Teagasc is aiming to provide for an increased intake of 640 students this year at the country’s six agricultural colleges — an increase of 24 on last year’s numbers.

The planned intake for 2012 represents the physical limit of the colleges.

In an effort to overcome a deficit of teachers, Teagasc has redeployed advisory staff and subcontracted delivery of specific education modules across a number of colleges and local centres.