Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to approve the hiring of further advisers by Teagasc; if he will provide funding for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26080/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I very much appreciate the important contribution that the Teagasc Advisory Service is making in providing research-based advice and support to farm families. We continue to require a strong input from Teagasc advisers to optimise farm incomes and meet national output goals in a sustainable way. My Department has been actively working with Teagasc to ease staffing difficulties in the organisation. Within the constraints of the staffing moratorium, over 60 permanent appointments were authorised on an exceptional basis since 2009. The allocation of resources between the advisory, research and education directorates is an operational matter for Teagasc.

It is expected that the new delegated sanction arrangements for the management of public service numbers announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in Budget 2014will provide public bodies with greater discretion over staffappointments, but strictly within an overall pay framework.

I expect the delegated sanction arrangements for the management of staff numbers in Teagasc tobe finalised shortly. Formal delegated sanction will be subject to Teagasc remaining within binding pay bill ceilings.

Teagasc is also re-configuring the way in which it delivers advisory services. The actions include greater use of discussion groups, sub-contracting the delivery of non-core work, and establishing strategic alliances with private providers. The primary objective of such arrangements is to maintain the strong focus of Teagasc advisers on knowledge transfer activities while also providing a scheme - support service to farmers.