An attempt to delay Teagasc's cost-cutting plan to sell its Dublin headquarters and three rural research centres, and to close 10 advisory offices, will be made at a board meeting tomorrow.
Increasing political pressure is coming on board members to reverse the decision despite sanction by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, to go ahead with the sales. A number of groups opposed to the Teagasc management proposals are expected to picket the board meeting of the agriculture and food development authority in Dublin.
The closures, forced on the authority because of a €15 million deficit because of government spending cuts, has angered farm organisations, trade unions and many rural dwellers who have accused the Government of adopting anti-rural strategies.
The plan envisages the sell-off of the organisation's headquarters in Sandymount, Dublin, and the sale of its centres in Clonroche, Co Wexford, Lullymore, Co Kildare, and Knockbeg, Co Carlow. The closure and relocation of staff from 10 advisory offices at Bailieborough, Loughrea, Manorhamilton, Boyle, Tullow, Cork city, Corduff, Mullinavat, Gorey and Wicklow town is also envisaged.
Groups from a number of areas have indicated they may picket the Sandymount meeting where an attempt will be made by some of the board members to delay the implementation of the plan.
Politicians from the west have particularly criticised the proposal to close the research centre at Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, which was established to help farmers making a living on poor, wet soils.
Other groups have been applying heavy political pressure on board members to reverse their decision. Only one, representing the Teagasc staff, opposed the package.
Last night SIPTU, the union representing most of the 1,600 workers at Teagasc, condemned the cuts which would involve the transfer of the headquarters staff to Carlow and north Co Dublin.
"It is totally unacceptable for our members to be asked to carry the can for the Government's mishandling of the public finances," Mr Owen Reidy, secretary of SIPTU's state agencies branch, said yesterday. "If management proceeds with its unilateral proposals without consultation, negotiation and agreement with SIPTU, we will act to protect our members' terms and conditions of employment."