The exclusion of agricultural students from a €15m fund to bridge the digital divide among third-level students was top of the agenda as Macra na Ferime met new Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.

The fund was announced in light of the distance learning schedule rolled out by colleges due to COVID-19. Recently, some of the fund was used to purchase some 17,000 laptops for students in universities.

Macra president Thomas Duffy said: “Macra na Feirme highlighted the lack of fairness and equality that is facing students entering and returning to Ireland’s agricultural colleges.

Exclusion

“Macra na Feirme highlighted the unfairness and discrimination that this exclusion puts on agricultural college students.”

The organisation called upon Minister McConalogue to make the necessary funds available to support agricultural students in equal measure to other students.

Among the other issues discussed at the meeting, which Ministers Hackett and Heydon also attended, were CAP concerns, Brexit issues and the upcoming budget.

“We highlighted the need to ensure that a national reserve for young farmers is created for the coming year. Every year, having a national reserve scheme for young farmers is an encouragement for new entrants to farming. It is crucial that the Department open[s] the scheme for 2021,” Duffy said.

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