124 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the position in relation to the future of the Teagasc office in Carndonagh, County Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the local concern within the farming community regarding the proposal to close the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The deployment of staff with Teasgasc is a matter solely for that body, subject to the consent of my Department and the Department of Finance as to numbers and grades. However, I understand that Teagasc has no proposal to close the office at Carndonagh.

Teagasc has informed me that there is one adviser based at Carndonagh who services the Inishowen Peninsula. He is employed on a temporary contract pending Teagasc's review of staffing needs on a national basis.