Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the annual budget for Teagasc in 2008, 2009 and 2010; the amount of funding granted by his Department; the staff complement of Teagasc in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31254/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The details requested by the Deputy are as follows:

* includes permanent and contract staff

The annual budget for Teagasc includes Department funding and own generated income from advisory service fees etc. The annual budget figure for 2010 is an estimate. The funding granted by my Department is mainly made up of Grant in aid for general purposes and grants for agri-food research and other programme expenditure.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the proposals in the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme report in respect of Teagasc; the actions that he has taken in relation to these proposals. [31255/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, Department funding to Teagasc has been cut by €11m from €146m in 2009 to €135m in 2010. The Government moratorium on public service numbers also applies to the filling of posts in Teagasc and requires Teagasc to achieve a permanent, structural reduction in the numbers of staff serving in the organisation. Teagasc is now operating with fewer staff with staffing levels falling by 142 posts since the moratorium commenced in March 2009. An Employment Control Framework for Teagasc is also being finalised for the purposes of managing staff numbers to 2012.

In 2009, the Teagasc Authority approved a major 'Change Programme' to reorganise and refocus the organisation to meet the significant challenges that lie ahead. This required Teagasc to build greater flexibility and responsiveness in all areas of its activities and to implement a credible rationalization plan to enable the organisation adapt to medium-term budgetary constraints. The planned Programme provides for rationalisation measures across the organisation including the advisory office and educational networks, disposal of land resources and prioritisation of programme activities. The Teagasc Authority recently approved the second stage of the rationalisation programme - "The Teagasc Change Programme 2009-2013: The Next Steps". It builds on progress made during the first phase and incorporates a further series of rationalisation measures.

The Teagasc Change Programme fits in with Government policy enunciated in the Croke Park Agreement to create a modern, efficient and customer focused public service. The Teagasc Authority is committed to full implementation of the Programme to transform Teagasc into a more efficient organisation that is totally focussed on servicing its clients and stakeholders. The agreed actions, which are being implemented, also tie in with the recommendations in the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme Report as they concern Teagasc.