Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1186. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided to Teagasc each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1125/18]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1187. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the types of funding administered by Teagasc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1126/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1186 and 1187 together.

Teagasc develops its programmes and activities in research, advisory and education in conjunction with clients and partners overseen by an Authority that is representative of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food sector. My Department provides Teagasc with a yearly block Grant in Aid subvention to support the delivery of it services to the agriculture and food sector. The 2018 allocation was increased by just over €4m to €132.6m. Funding is provided for pay, pension, capital and non-pay purposes. It receives additional exchequer income from competitive research programmes (FIRM, Stimulus etc.) and for supporting the delivery of Department Schemes (GLAS, KT Programme, Carbon Navigator training etc.). Teagasc also earns own generated operational income from a number of sources including client fees for the provision of advisory and education services , EU research funding, farm operations, publications etc. Its overall operating budget for 2018 is an estimated €203m. The distribution of that funding is an operational matter for Teagasc to determine. Teagasc's Financial Accounts are audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General and published on its website.