Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Teagasc was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, to provide research, advisory and education services to the agricultural sector. The primary objective of the Teagasc Advisory Service is to maximise the income and sustainability of farm families in line with the goals of the current Teagasc Statement of Strategy.

The Advisory Service provides support to Teagasc clients through contracted advisory services and to the wider farming network through public good advisory, knowledge transfer and education activities and events. It includes advisory support to a wide range of schemes available to farmers, including information around the eligibility, technical and operational aspects, potential payment rates available and the suitability of certain schemes to the overall farm business and activities for individual farmers.

Teagasc also support application submissions and follow-up services associated with a number of schemes to contracted farmer clients. Similar services are also provided by Private Advisory Consultants. It is a matter for each farmer as to which advisory service they wish to avail of. A number of schemes are also available for farmers to engage with directly without the support of an advisor agent on their behalf.

When it comes to schemes, my Department will clearly communicate the deadline and other relevant information to interested participants at the time of the scheme launch. This can be communicated through a range of methods both directly in terms of on online promotion, public meetings and indirectly through farm media and of course through the professional farm advisors (either Teagasc or private). To ensure that all advisors are also fully informed of this information in order that they provide the best possible information to their clients, my Department runs annual mandatory training courses for advisors. This ensures a continued high level of professionalism in the advisory services.