Teagasc has no plans at the moment to purchase or open an uplands research farm, Stan Lalor director of knowledge transfer told the Strokestown AGM of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).

Lalor was responding to comments from the outgoing INHFA president Vincent Roddy that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) can purchase tracts of land to rewild but the State still has no dedicated uplands research facility.

“Teagasc do not have an uplands research platform within our control that’s absolutely the case,” Lalor conceded.

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“Is there money designated for Teagasc to go out and buy one? No there is not,” he added.

“Are we open to opportunities to do it, absolutely we are.”

However, Lalor pointed out that Teagasc was working closely with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

He said the uplands research being undertaken in both jurisdictions was relatable for Irish hill farmers.