According to Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, Teagasc’s request for 15 new temporary posts to meet acute demand pressure points in some geographical locations was recently approved by his Department.

The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil deputy Brendan Smith on the progress being made to meet the demand for Green Cert courses.

In his reply, the minister said his Department has been working closely with Teagasc to resolve staffing issues in relation to the adult Green Cert arising from the introduction of the Young Farmers Scheme and National Reserve in 2015. Both of these schemes require successful applicants to complete a FETAC level 6 (Green Cert) or its equivalent in order to qualify for payment.

Waiting list

Last November, Teagasc director Gerry Boyle told the Irish Farmers Journal that there were approximately 3,500 people waiting to be accepted onto Green Cert courses. Teagasc would normally have to deal with about 500 applications in one year.

Following this, Teagasc put together a plan to accommodate the applicants waiting to start their agricultural education and sent it to the Government seeking approval.

We are looking for 15 teachers to be sanctioned by the Department as temporary staff

Part of this plan was the request for the 15 temporary teaching staff.

“We are looking for 15 teachers to be sanctioned by the Department as temporary staff,” IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy, who sits on the Teagasc authority, told the Irish Farmers Journal at the time.

Creed added that it is up to Teagasc to decide where to assign the extra staff, now they have been approved by his Department. He did not say where his Department stood on approving the rest of Teagasc’s plan.

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