Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, research and advisory services to the Agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc and its Board to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities.

Teagasc is currently implementing a Change Programme to achieve greater efficiencies in all aspects of their business and address the need for significant resource rationalization in the advisory office network. Accordingly, the Teagasc Authority has decided to concentrate the delivery of services at fewer offices – reduced from 91 to 51 by 2012. It is understood that the Teagasc Authority has decided to close the advisory offices at Tullow and Bagenalstown and dispose of the sites.

The decision to close these and other offices is entirely a matter for Teagasc and its Board. Ministerial responsibility is confined to matters of policy in accordance with the Act establishing Teagasc and is not concerned with the day-to-day operations of Teagasc.

Teagasc has stressed that when these decisions are implemented they will still retain a significant network of advisory offices, research centres and training colleges throughout the country. As a result, the ability of Teagasc to provide its range of services will not be diminished.