Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to contact the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the subject of places at agricultural colleges? This is a matter on which I am seeking all-party support. I raised it last year and acknowledge that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform lifted the embargo and appointed one extra tutor to each of the six agricultural colleges. This year 921 young people applied for places at these colleges. There are 640 such places, which means almost 300 of the young people to whom I refer will not be attending agricultural college this year. Agriculture is one of the industries which is assisting the country in getting out of the recession. In that context, only 9% of farmers are under 40 years of age. Unless we allow the young people to whom I refer to gain access to agriculture, we will not make progress in achieving our goals under Food Harvest 2020.

It is not the position that people are being refused entry to agricultural colleges. What is happening is that they are now expected to sit an academic examination. I know people who have sat the examination in each of the past three years and failed to obtain a place in one of the agricultural colleges. This has serious implications for their future as farmers. If one does not have the green certificate which is presented to those who complete the relevant two year course in agricultural college, one is not entitled to claim the single farm payment or any of the grants available under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's schemes. In addition, one cannot avail of any of the changes introduced in the most recent budget in respect of inheritance, etc. I ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to contact the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, and request that he lift the embargo again. It is unfortunate that an academic examination has been introduced. When people apply through the Central Applications Office system, they are offered places - perhaps on similar courses. However, there are no such similar courses for the young people to whom I refer because in order to obtain a green certificate one must attend agricultural college. I ask the Leader to take the action I have suggested in order that the embargo will be lifted and additional places created. I acknowledge the six additional tutor positions the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned last year. These ensured an additional 120 people could attend agricultural college. I am requesting all-party support in this matter.