Professor Gerry Boyle:

There are three colleges. There is Gurteen College, the Salesians run the Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry, and the Franciscans run the Mountbellew Agricultural College. They provide educational courses on behalf of Teagasc in their communities and therefore Teagasc is required to subvent a substantial number of the staff at those colleges. We also second staff there who are on our payroll, but that is a separate matter. Additionally, we are required to assist in the maintenance of those facilities insofar as we can because the entities in question do not have the resources. We supply a small amount of funding every year to help with basic maintenance. These are a very important resource to Teagasc in delivering education throughout the country-----