Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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526. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of a 20% increase in funding for sustainable horticulture research in Teagasc per annum. [32165/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides Grant in Aid funding to Teagasc annually to enable the organisation provide research, education and advisory services to the agriculture and horticulture sectors. The allocation for 2018 was increased by €4.2m to €132.5m. In addition, Teagasc earn approximately €50m per annum in own generated income from advisory and education fees, research grants, EU funding, farm operations etc. The distribution of funds from Teagasc's annual budget is an operational matter for Teagasc and its governing Authority.

I am advised by Teagasc that most of their horticulture research addresses sustainability in one form or another. In 2018, Teagasc is spending €890,000 on horticulture research comprising €630,000 from Grant in Aid funding and €260,000 from DAFM research projects. Accordingly, the estimated cost of a 20% increase in Teagasc horticulture research is €178,000. The foregoing does not include capital investments in Teagasc infrastructure, which also support its horticulture activities.