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Local agricultural research centre facing closure

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

A NORTHSIDE agricultural research centre that employs 85 people is facing closure. A spokesman for Teagasc, based in Kinsealy, told Northside People that a second phase of the Teagasc Change programme was agreed in principle by the Teagasc Authority in December 2009 in response to reductions in its budget in both 2009 and 2010. “The Teagasc budget was reduced by e14 million in 2009 with a further reduction in 2010,” he said. “The proposed closure of the centre at Kinsealy was one of the changes in the plan and consultation has commenced with the staff concerned. “A local internal partnership group involving staff and management has been set up to facilitate the change. “The 85 staff currently located in Kinsealy work in a number of Teagasc business units including, education, rural economy research, headquarters function, advisory, forestry research and horticulture.” Teagasc has two other centres in Dublin – the Ashtown Food Research Centre and the College of Horticulture at the Botanic Gardens. The spokesman said staff from Kinsealy could be relocated to these centres. “The largest staff grouping in Kinsealy work in education, and the Ashtown centre is closer and more convenient to DCU and the Botanic Gardens than the Kinsealy campus,” he added.  “It is a Teagasc priority, notwithstanding the reduction in grant aid in 2009 and 2010, to enhance Teagasc’s capacity in horticultural research and development.” A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food told Northside People that the Government has not made any decision to close the facility. “The future of the Kinsealy centre is a matter for Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority,” she stated.   “Under the Agriculture, (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, advisory and training services to the agriculture sector. “It is a matter for Teagasc and its board to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities.” Meanwhile, Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) has hit out at plans to close the centre. Deputy Broughan said it was a critical centre of research and expertise for the Irish horticultural industry as a whole. “The centre has a key mandate for developing the most up-to-date technological informa­- tion and facilities for the long-term competitiveness of Irish horticulture,” he told Northside People. “The staff members at the Kinsealy facility were shocked to learn before Christmas that the centre is being closed down.” Deputy Broughan pointed out that north county Dublin has a very strong farming heritage.   “It has long been a centre of horticulture and food production that is very important to the local and national economy,” he stated. “It is therefore baffling why the decision has been made to shut down the facility given its critical location.” Deputy Broughan added that he would be contacting Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, and Minister for Food and Horticulture and Dublin North TD, Trevor Sargent, to clarify why Teagasc in Kinsealy is being closed down and what future is being planned for the staff.