Teagasc warns of crisis due to jobs moratorium

Teagasc has warned of a crisis in its staffing levels because of the Government’s moratorium on jobs in the public sector.

The head of the agriculture and food development authority expressed concern that Teagasc might have to place a cap on the number of students it enrolls in its colleges because of the scale of the problem.

Launching its annual report in Dublin yesterday, Teagasc director Gerry Boyle said there was also a similar staffing crisis in relation to advisers, with acute shortages in Laois, Monaghan, and Tipperary.

Overall staff levels in Teagasc fell by 100 last year to 1,160. Mr Boyle said the number of employees was set to fall to 1,000 in 2015 compared to a staffing level of 1,600 four years ago.

He pointed out that the number of advisers in Teagasc was down 38% over the same period, with 250 currently employed — a reduction of 150 since 2009.

“There is a danger of clients not getting the service for which they’ve paid,” said Mr Boyle.

He said student enrolments had soared 144% since 2006 to 1,506 this year, while the number of teaching posts had remained largely static at 65.

“We’re at the limit of how far we can push things,” said Mr Boyle, adding that the problem was essentially one concerning recruitment “more than funding”.

He voiced concern that Teagasc would have no option but to place caps on college places if the number of applicants continued to increase without additional teaching staff.

Mr Boyle said the situation was critical in relation to its agricultural college in Clonakilty, Co Cork, and the privately-run college in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick.

Teagasc reported that the average family farm income fell 15% last year to €25,483, with bad weather affecting crop yields and production costs, particularly in relation to fodder.

About 42,600 farmers sought advisory help from Teagasc last year, generating €11.5m in income, with 40% of clients paying €100 or less for such services.

Prof Boyle said Teagasc believed there was scope to improve income in the beef sector, which currently averages between €200 and €300 per acre. He said Teagasc had set €1,000 per acre as a realistic target. He claimed its Dairy Efficiency Programme had proven highly satisfactory with costs for participants working out at three cent per litre cheaper than for other dairy farmers. Teagasc is also investing €26m of the €36m received from sales of its property following the closure of over 40 offices in recent years in modernising its remaining facilities.

Teagasc chairman Noel Cawley said its 2% fall in income last year to €169.4m was in line with reductions across other state bodies.