Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am under time pressure, but I have one more question. I wish to discuss the apprenticeship programme that is being rolled out to level 6 and level 7 applicants. It crosses a range of schemes from sportsturf to farm management and from farm technicians to horticulture. This is an important programme that involves more Departments than just the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and it helps to get people involved in funding an important part of agriculture. I wish to ask Professor O’Mara about the recruitment being undertaken on his side of the house to roll out the programme. Have the 12 temporary self-funded posts been approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine yet so that this important programme, which is another gateway to agriculture, can be rolled out? Does Teagasc have these people on the ground and is the programme up and running?