Candidates warned on Teagasc closure

AGGRIEVED farmers yesterday warned Government candidates in two constituencies that their seats were under threat.

The planned closure of a Teagasc office in the west Cork town of Dunmanway could impact on candidates in both Cork South West and Cork North West.

Farmers within a 20-mile radius are serviced by the centre and some could find themselves up to 40 miles from a farm advice centre if Teagasc proceeds with the planned closure.

The farmers’ anger has been vented at Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan and community backing for their campaign was evident at a protest march held in the town yesterday.

Chairman of the newly formed Farmers in Action group Donal O’Donovan said the fight would be brought to the ballot box.

“Fianna Fáil are trying hard to hold onto two seats in each constituency and they will see, from the turnout today, this is a very big issue for both the urban and rural communities,” he said.

“The election comes at a good time for us. If Fianna Fáil does not look after this area it could cost the party two seats. Local polls suggest 35% of the electorate in the area are undecided and that could be a decisive factor in deciding who gets the seats,” he said.

The group says it has the support of the IFA and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA). ICSA representative Dermot Kelleher said if politicians considered the proposed Dunmanway office closure as merely a local issue they were grossly underestimating the 280 families in the locality and many more further afield.

The proposed rationalising of Teagasc services in Co Cork comes at a bad time for sitting TDs as some areas seem certain to suffer. It is likely that if the office in Dunmanway is saved, a Teagasc centre in Bantry would close instead.

Farmer Neil Collins said there will be a frosty reception for Fianna Fáil canvassers. “There is going to be plenty of people banging on doors in the next few weeks and I might have just said I would do my best for them before. But not this time. I am going to look them in the eye and demand what they are going to do to make the minister keep the office open,” he said.