Teagasc has signed a new memorandum of understanding and service level agreements with Ireland’s three private agricultural colleges - Gurteen College, Salesian Agricultural College Pallaskenry and Mountbellew Agricultural College.

The move will see Teagasc provide operational grants and staff resourcing supports to each of the three colleges.

The memorandum of understanding covers a period of five years and sets out the overarching principles for partnership and collaboration.

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The accompanying service level agreements, which cover a period of two academic years, define in more detail the operational arrangements for programme delivery, funding and support.

Together, Teagasc has said that the agreements will clarify governance and oversight arrangements for the partnership, as well as set out funding and operational grant support to the private colleges.

Arrangements

They will also aid in making arrangements for programme delivery and learner support, while at the same time provide a structured basis for ongoing strategic collaboration.

Speaking at the signing of the new agreements, which took place in Teagasc head office, Oak Park, on Tuesday 16 December, Teagasc director Frank O’Mara said that these agreements "provide a clear and robust framework for how we work together and they reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring that high-quality, practical agricultural education is available to learners throughout Ireland, now and into the future”.

Meanwhile, college principals Jon Parry of Gurteen College, Edna Curley of Mountbellew Agricultural College and Derek O'Donoghue of Salesian Agricultural College commented that they were keen to continue to deliver a significant element of the Teagasc education programme.

"The three colleges have a long-shared history working in partnership with Teagasc to ensure high-quality agricultural education is available to students across Ireland, with each college being unique and bringing its own ethos and specialities to the Teagasc network," they said.

Private colleges have enrolled students from all 26 counties during 2025, with very significant numbers from the midlands and western counties contributing to over 40% of the full-time Teagasc agricultural student population, with a total of 600 adult students.