Teagasc Will Continue to Adapt to Meet the Needs of Farmers

The Chairman of Teagasc, Dr. Tom O’Dwyer today said that in the current period of very great change in agriculture, Teagasc had a more important role than ever to play in the sector.

“Farmers are faced with great challenges, many demanding that they make hard choices with respect to their enterprises. It is vital that Teagasc should be in a position to provide the necessary services and knowledge to help in this process”,said Dr. O’Dwyer.

Dr. O’Dwyer was speaking following a meeting of the Teagasc Authority in Donegal yesterday (7 July 2005). The Authority had devoted considerable time to discussing the provision of advisory and training services to the agri-food sector.

Dr. O’Dwyer emphasised that Teagasc was totally committed to delivering a targeted, responsive and effective advisory service to farmers. Very significant streamlining of the service has taken place and is continuing on the basis already announced. He added that the office structure throughout the country was an important element of the service.

“It was natural that, as the office structure was the public face of Teagasc in many areas, the number of offices and locations offering advisory services was very symbolic for farmers”he said.

In this context the Authority has decided that the Teagasc offices in Boyle, Mullinvat, Bagenalstown and Gorey would continue to provide advisory services to clients has heretofore, not withstanding the fact that these offices were under consideration for closure as part of the rationalisation plan.

Dr. O’Dwyer added that the Authority was fully aware that the advisory service structure could not standstill in an era of much change in agriculture. The Authority was fully committed, in the context of effectively servicing the farmer client base, to continue to examine the structure of the service and make changes where necessary and desirable.

“In configuring advisory and training services, Teagasc staff and the Authority will always be guided by the needs of the farming community and take whatever steps are necessary to meet these needs” said Dr. O’Dwyer.

Ends

Issued by Larry O’Loughlin

Head Public Relations Department, Teagasc

Tel: 059 9183408; 087 2562434

Email: loloughlin@hq.teagasc.ie