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Broughan Slams Govt Plans To Shut Down Fingal Teagasc Facility

Issued : Tuesday 19 January, 2010

Dublin North East Labour Deputy Tommy Broughan has slammed plans by the government to shut down the Teagasc agriculture research centre in Kinsealy, Malahide Road, Fingal, Dublin 17. Deputy Broughan accused Junior Agriculture Minister Trevor Sargent of betraying farming and horticulture voters in Fingal County.

"The Teagasc facility in Kinsealy is 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 information and facilities for the long-term competiveness of Irish horticulture and also liaises closely with research staff at the Botantic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

"The approximately 85 staff members at the Kinsealy facility were shocked to learn before Christmas that the centre is being closed down. I understand that staff are now completely in the dark about their future and there may be plans to redeploy them to other Teagasc centres around the country. Clearly some staff are very concerned that they may be forced to move to the opposite end of the country even though their families are long settled in Fingal and the Northside of Dublin."

Deputy Broughan also highlighted the long tradition of horticulture in North County Dublin. "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. It is therefore baffling why the decision has been made to shut down the Teagasc facility in Kinsealy given its critical location. It is particularly astonishing that Junior Minister Sargent sanctioned the closure of this vital agriculture research centre in the heart of Fingal."

"I have contacted Agriculture Ministers Brendan Smith and Trevor Sargent and asked them to immediately clarify why Teagasc in Kinsealy is being closed down and what future is being planned for the staff. I wil also raise the proposed closure of Teagasc as a matter of priority with Minister Smith and Taoiseach Cowen in Dail Eireann when it resumes today."