Teagasc to Consolidate Resources on Fewer Centres

6 March, 2003

The Teagasc Authority, at its meeting today, agreed to consolidate its resources on fewer centres. The decision has been taken against the background of a significant cutback in Teagasc finances and the necessity for Teagasc to protect its priority research, advisory and training services.

At its February meeting, the Teagasc Authority decided to sell its Head Office in Dublin and relocate staff to the organisation's national tillage research centre at Oak Park, Carlow. Staff in the Teagasc Rural Economy Research Centre, currently located at the Dublin Head Office, are to be relocated to Mellows College, Athenry. The Authority also decided to sell its soft fruit research centre at Clonroche, Wexford and transfer the research activities on soft fruit to other larger research facilities. The Teagasc facility at Lullymore, Co. Kildare is also to be sold.

Today's decisions involve the sale of the organisation's dairy farm at Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim and the closure of the sheep research unit at Knockbeg, Carlow. Through a wider use of 'monitor farms' the services currently provided by these centres will be maintained. The Authority has also instructed management to investigate the possibility of selling land surplus to requirements at Kinsealy Research Centre in Dublin. However, the core horticultural research and training facilities at Kinsealy will be retained.

The Teagasc Authority also reaffirmed its commitment to the development of organic farming demonstration and research units at Mellows College, Athenry. Vocational training for young people currently undertaken at or planned for Athenry will be transferred to the nearby Mountbellew College.

The Authority is committed to developing the Athenry campus into an important adult training facility in organic farming and in a wide range of rural enterprise areas.

It is also committed to the development of Athenry as the main Teagasc centre in the west. It is already the national centre for sheep and physiology research, a key resource centre for rural development, a regional advisory centre and the county office for advisory and training services in Galway. The location of the Rural Economy Research Centre together with organic demonstration and research will make Athenry one of the major Teagasc locations in the country.

The Authority also decided to relocate staff and services from 10 advisory offices, currently owned by Teagasc, to nearby major research centres, colleges or advisory centres. The offices identified for closure are Bailieborough, Co. Cavan; Loughrea, Co. Galway; Manorhamiltonn, Co. Leitrim, Boyle, Co. Roscommon; Tullow, Co. Carlow; Cork city; Corduff, Co. Dublin, Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny; Gorey, Co. Wexford and Wicklow town.

Teagasc management has also been instructed to identify some smaller offices currently leased by Teagasc which should be considered for closure.

The Authority has stressed that, following the closures, Teagasc will still have a network of over 70 advisory and training centres nationwide as well as nine major research centres and 11 colleges. With proper resourcing and the adoption of modern technology and methodologies for information transfer, it is confident that priority research, advisory and training services for the agriculture and food industry will be secured.