Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at the launch of Teagasc’s annual report and financial statements for 2015, Teagasc’s director Gerry Boyle said that there are around 3,500 people on a waiting list for a level 6 agricultural qualification, also known as the Green Cert.

This is the same amount that took Green Cert courses in 2015. Teagasc would usually have to deal with approximately 500 applications in one year.

Another 1,000 commenced courses in 2016.

The recent spike in demand for places on Green Cert courses has much to do with the education requirements of the Young Farmers Scheme and National Reserve, both of which require applicants to have a Green Cert or equivalent in order to qualify for payment. These schemes opened in 2015, but only the Young Farmer Scheme reopened in 2016.

Shifting the backlog

Prof Boyle told the Irish Farmers Journal that the big challenge now facing Teagasc is how it is going to shift the backlog of students that are waiting to commence courses, especially under the limitations imposed by the Government on recruitment of staff.

"The big challenge is how we are going to shift the backlog that is there," he said.

Teagasc had been under a staff number embargo since 2009, but this was lifted in late 2015. Teagasc can now replace staff when they retire up to a maximum of 75 new appointments subject to compliance with multi-annual pay ceilings. However, there is still a deficit in staff numbers left over from the embargo.

We are going to have to find some other ways to cope with the additional demand

Teagasc has 70 permanent teaching staff and it recruited an extra 70 fixed-term contract staff for 2015 and 2016.

“Even though these additional 70 were contract staff we have very strict regulations in regard to the contracts we issue, so it is unlikely we’re going to be able to renew those contracts or even recruit replacements,” said Boyle. “About 20 of those 70 contracts are expiring at the end of this year and then more will expire next year so we are going to have to find some other ways to cope with the additional demand.”

Listen to “Discussing demand for Green Cert courses with Prof Gerry Boyle” on Spreaker.

Teagasc has four of its own colleges, Ballyhaise, Clonakilty, Kildalton and the Botanic Gardens, and it partners with three private colleges, Gurteen, Pallaskenry and Mountbellew.

Even with Green Cert courses on offer in all of these colleges, the current demand is a huge challenge for the agriculture and food development authority.

Department response

Answering a parliamentary question on this topic from Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin this week, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed acknowledged the “exceptional demand” for Green Cert courses.

My department will continue to monitor the Green Cert situation in Teagasc closely

The minister said that while Teagasc “must remain within its overall pay budget, the flexibility provided by the lifted embargo will allow them to fill critical vacancies and to react faster when such vacancies arise in the future.”

Creed added that his department has asked Teagasc to “explore other staffing measures, beyond further temporary recruitment, to ensure that any residual demand for the Green Cert can be accommodated within a realistic time frame."

“My department will continue to monitor the Green Cert situation in Teagasc closely,” he concluded.

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