Professor Gerry Boyle:

We have identified assets to dispose of. Teagasc undertook a rationalisation programme in the period up to 2012 and 2013 and we identified a number of properties to be sold. These were mainly advisory offices, of which we had 91 in 2010 but have now sold off around 40. The rationalisation plan concluded that we could accommodate all our research requirements at that time at our Ashtown site so the Kinsealy site, which had been used for horticultural research purposes, was earmarked for closure. We migrated all our staff from Kinsealy to Ashtown and we are now in the process of selling the site, though we have not yet commenced the process. We have secured professional advice on how to maximise value to the State.