Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I thank Mr. Herlihy and Professor Boyle for appearing before us today. I wish Mr. Herlihy well in his role as incoming chairman of Teagasc. It is an exciting but challenging time to come into the role. I note that he outlined the various programmes. In respect of the €56 million that is non-grant aid income, from where does it mostly derive? Is it from research projects undertaken by Teagasc or is it from collaboration with dairy co-operatives? I think Teagasc is also involved in the agricultural farm in Kilkenny. I raised a few issues about it, the new winter system and out-wintering dairy cows. I have a concern about that. I might as well be straight and honest. I have been contacted in recent years by people who have concerns about it, particularly in the context of what Mr. Herlihy rightly identified as climate change issues. Obviously, the objective is part of research. I think it is being done in collaboration with the co-operatives. It might be meritorious at the beginning but we differ somewhat from New Zealand and other places where this has been adopted. I was told about the number of cattle lost. I would like to see the number and the tags of all those lost animals made available because some of the information I got was worrying. Teagasc is the research body and an arm of the State that aims to make sure all that can be done is done, so I hope for reassurance in that regard. I accept that what occurred last February or March was unusual but now we are aware of it, we must be in anticipatory and precautionary mode to ensure that it does not happen again and that animals are not left in that position. This will not be new to Professor Boyle. I have raised this issue in this committee previously. It is about ensuring we do everything we can. I am not saying anyone does anything deliberately.

I come from this end of the spectrum. Some of my colleagues from Teagasc are coming to the end of the road and will be part of the 43 million rather than at the other end where Teagasc is now rightly focusing. The VistaMilk programme is excellent. I think we will see benefits from that in terms of how to gain from our pasture-based agriculture and grassland. I think that will be good even in terms of the infant formula market of which we have a disproportionate and positive share. Well done to everybody involved in that, including Teagasc. Moorepark is still in the vanguard of significant technological developments and long may that continue. I cannot but acknowledge Grange and its work in the beef and dry stock sector. I suppose it is nearer to Senator Paul Daly and to me. I am very glad to see that John Heslin, one of the top ten footballers in the country, is doing a doctorate there. I look forward to reading his output in due course.

My next question might be one for Professor Boyle. Could he give a broad outline of how he sees us fitting in following Brexit? I know it is not fair because nobody knows. We must assume a best case scenario but prepare for a worst case scenario. How would a worst case scenario hit the very ambitious targets outlined in Food Wise 2025?

I am delighted to see Teagasc liaise with local authorities. There was always a close relationship even at local level. It was always there in Westmeath in any event but we now have a formalised programme in terms of improving water quality. If we can work with Teagasc, local authorities and farming organisations in a collaborative and co-operative way, we can make a significant dent in that.

How many of those 7,000 learners are going back to the home farms? Thankfully, some people will be employed by Kerry Foods and we need them to be available in this regard. I am delighted to see CPD for farmers, which is a novel concept, because it is important that farmers who are middle aged get an opportunity to participate in ongoing professional development so I am pleased about that.

Regarding the capital requirements, how much land can Teagasc dispose of without impacting on its core key objects in terms of research and development and advisory services, which are key to the organisation? How much more land is available for that? In the absence of a sale of capital assets such as land or a direct capital subvention by way of a direct Vote from the Government - the Department's budget from the Government - how else will Teagasc raise money? That is the key question. Teagasc has a lot of objectives and there seem to be many innovations on its part.

Waiting lists for young people are a cause of concern. The situation is better than it was. Teagasc has done its best. I see it has identified the reasons for waiting lists so that is a good start. Normally, we would be querying Teagasc about the reasons. Teagasc is saying it does not have enough people and that the salary on offer to young qualified researchers in particular is inadequate. I would probably broadly agree with that. Has Teagasc brought the issue to the attention of Government? There is an incongruence between Government policy, which is to accelerate intergenerational transfers, and a situation where less than 1% of agricultural land is becoming available on the market every year to allow somebody new to enter the sector. The problem is that it is very difficult to enter the sector. A young person telephoned me this morning on my way here. This person was ready to take on 150 acres and wanted to know whether I would speak to somebody in connection with the possibility of leasing that land. As a committee, we make recommendations with regard to stamp duty, capital acquisitions tax and inheritance tax. These are all great policies but what happens if they cannot function because of the age limits and because Teagasc cannot get young people through and there is a logjam at its end?

Mr. Herlihy is saying we need additional resources to ensure that those online and distance education programmes, as well as direct courses, be made available in Mullingar, Ballyhaise, Athenry, Gurteen or wherever, because that is absolutely critical. I support Teagasc's efforts in that regard. We will have to tackle this head on, probably with the Minister, on Teagasc's behalf to ensure that additional resources are made available. I note that full-time people will be needed in those roles; part-time work would be a sticking plaster solution that would cure the problem now only for it to accumulate again. I support Mr. Herlihy and wish him well in his role as chairman with Professor Boyle, who has been there for a long time. Both of them will do a good job and their role is pivotal to ensuring that agriculture is in a position to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.