Mr. Tony Pettit:

I thank Senator Daly for his questions. Regarding agricultural science resources, when the new curriculum was being established in this area we did have some consultation and input into that process with the Department of Education and Science, and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, at the time. We maintain links to try to help teachers of agricultural science at second level. They approach Teagasc and we provide resources on our website for schools as well. We are always willing to help. Our Teagasc research centres and colleges are always there to support teachers with particular projects or if they need information from us. We are certainly keen to help agricultural science teachers in any way we can. If they want any kind of specific professional development opportunities with Teagasc, for example, we will facilitate such endeavours. We indicated that to those teachers previously.

Turning to the selection process for the green certificate, we aim to accommodate all those applying for places on the course. Demand has been strong for our adult education programmes, as we call them, in recent years. Our courses are separate from those of the ETBs. We are not linked. Our courses are approved separately by QQI, as are those of the ETBs in their own right. We try to take on and accommodate people as best we can on the courses we run. Changing those selection criteria for our courses would be a matter for consideration by the Teagasc authority. There is a challenge involved in trying to verify when people have a real need, as opposed to when they cannot be considered as much of a priority. However, I will refer those comments back for consideration within Teagasc. Similarly, in respect of the age requirement to be over 23 years old on entry, we certainly always look at individual cases and we have made exceptions for people whose circumstances, for bona fide reasons, mean they cannot enter our education courses in the normal fashion.

We try to make arrangements for them and not confine them to the courses for those over 23. The course is validated and approved by QQI as one for people over 23 and by and large the expectation is that not all the people on it will be over 23. We look at it on a case by case basis when these situations arise and have accommodated people who are under 23.

Safety is important in the Teagasc courses and there are modules on farm and food safety. It is also built into all the skills activities within the courses so it is integrated in that regard. We work with various organisations such as FBD and farm organisations on the Champions for Safety initiative that we run across the colleges. Outside the colleges, the Teagasc advisory service also runs half-day or one-day courses on farm safety. I take the point that other people may need to be accommodated and I will take that into consideration with our colleagues. Dr. Lalor might like to comment on that as well.