Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the new chairman and the director of Teagasc. It is very important that the committee can discuss with the leading organisations of the agricultural community their vision for that community in a very challenging time, whether it is in respect of weather issues or the age profile of the farming community, which is probably a bigger issue for us. They are issues that we really need to discuss.

On the age profile of Teagasc itself, how do Mr. Herlihy and Professor Boyle feel it is going to develop in the coming years? The opening address stated that there was an issue with funding, bringing in graduates and people at that level. My understanding of the organisation is that it has a very good, solid core of advisers but that they are of a certain demographic and age. Somewhat like the farming issue itself, is there a fear that there could be a situation in five or ten years' time whereby Teagasc will have a cohort of people going into retirement and insufficient numbers being brought in at the other end? Could that be an issue for the organisation? What is the age profile of the organisation and what are the plans going forward in this respect?

The age profile of farming is probably the biggest issue in so many ways. A study was produced a few years ago that said there were more farmers over 80 than under 35. The way to deal with that is through education. What are Teagasc's long-term plans to improve the education offering available to the agricultural community of whatever age or gender? Could the witnesses elaborate on the success or, as some might say, failure of the discussion groups? I was a member of one myself that was very successful but some would claim that under the new regime, discussion groups have not quite taken off, that in many ways the discussion groups are outside the Department led scheme and are being run by Teagasc still but in a kind of ad hocway. For the training of farmers and knowledge transfer, discussion groups are probably the key tool that will be used going forward.

Could the witnesses elaborate on the apprenticeships and training at levels 5 and 6? An issue that has materialised in my part of the world - I suppose it could be any part of the world - is the level of training of the host farmers. What audit system are we providing for them? Do we have legacy host farmers who have been there for generations and have they moved with the system? Has Teagasc reviewed that? Will all host farmers in future have to measure grass or have the ability to do so? If they do not have those or other technologies, how can they be the mentors who are required for the young recruits who are going to be a major part of our agriculture industry? How are we going to ensure that host farmers have the ability to mentor their trainees in order that the entire agricultural community can gain?