Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of staff in his Department specifically assigned to monitoring EU policy developments; if they are based here or in Brussels; if his Department does not have staff specifically assigned to monitor EU policy developments when last, if ever, were such staff specifically assigned to such a role. [20385/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Policy issues arising at EU level in the context of the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy are dealt with by the International Security and Defence Policy Branch in my Department in Newbridge. The Branch also deals with and manages Ireland's participation in the European Defence Agency; in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP); in the OSCE from a Defence perspective; and our engagement with the UN in relation to peacekeeping operations and the overseas deployment of personnel, together with all other bilateral and multilateral relationships in the Defence arena.

There are 6 staff in the Branch dealing primarily with EU and EU related policy issues, although these staff would also deal with a range of other areas as outlined above. There are also 6 staff, including support staff, based in the Permanent Representation in Brussels and in the NATO/PfP Liaison Office dealing with EU and NATO/PfP Issues. Military staff are assigned duties within Defence Forces Headquarters, providing military advice in relation to Defence issues arising at EU level and within NATO/PfP, the OSCE and the UN. Military staff are also deployed in the Permanent Representation in Brussels, the NATO/PfP Liaison Office, the OSCE in Vienna and Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in New York.

While the deployment of contingents of the Permanent Defence Force on overseas operations is very much the public face of the Defence organisation's international engagements, International Security Policy and Ireland's pro-active engagement at the policy level in the development of CSDP and NATO/PfP is important in terms of our international credibility and our re-engagement with the European Union. Monitoring developments and representing Ireland's interests in these fora is a key focus for the team in my Department who work in this area.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the potential and objectives in Harvest 2020 if he will accede to a request from Teagasc to hire 16 extra teaching staff which would allow the enrolment of more than 300 students in agricultural colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20113/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The availability of a well educated and skilled work force has a vital role to play in supporting sustainable farming and in enabling the agri-food sector meet the Food Harvest 2020 targets for growth. The achievement of these targets will contribute significantly to economic recovery.

In light of the above and following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have agreed to prioritise six new contract teaching posts in the Agricultural Colleges for a three year period as an exception to the moratorium. I expect that this exceptional approval of new posts will be matched by further initiatives by Teagasc to devote more resources to the Agricultural Colleges including redeploying staff from other areas of the organisation, examining class sizes in certain programmes, use of remote teaching and subcontracting where feasible. I am confident that the combined impact of these measures will allow Teagasc offer a significant number of additional places to students over the coming weeks.