Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

A Cheann Comhairle, I need your assistance and guidance. I had tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about the non-renewal of REPS planners' contracts. I got a nice letter from you this morning stating that it was not a matter for the Minister but a matter for Teagasc. I rang Teagasc and was told that it got its instructions from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food not to renew the contracts in June. What do I do now, a Cheann Comhairle? You will not answer me. The Minister will not answer me. Teagasc will not answer me. It is letting go 100 REPS planners who are making a profit of €3 million a year for Teagasc and doing very useful work. Now these young agricultural graduates will be put on the dole and nobody will answer my question on their behalf. What do I do?

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