Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Horticulture is a vital industry and one with great potential. We import 90%-plus of the fruit and vegetables we consume in Ireland. In west Cork, we have a thriving organic sustainable food industry from dairy to vegetable and soft fruit growers. The industry depends on an educated workforce from further education, levels 4 to 6, and higher education, levels 7, 8 and above. It has come to my attention the horticulture course in Skibbereen at the west Cork education and training board campus level 5 is going to be shelved. Students cannot afford to travel to Kinsale or Cork city for two hours every day. It is also vital for a degree in Munster Technological University, MTU, that further education is supported. Will the Taoiseach explain why the course is being discontinued when numbers for the course are normally only finalised in September each year? To some who have spoken to me, it sounds like another hatchet job on west Cork, the same as NLN last week. People are up in arms and in disbelief. There are, I am told, at least 100 jobs for every graduate. Surely we should be expanding the sector, especially considering sustainability and low carbon footprint.

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