Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu fosta. There are already 460 students completing part-time and distance education programmes in Ballyhaise Agricultural College, County Cavan, and there is a commitment that an additional 105 students will start those programmes before the end of 2016. There are 605 students on a waiting list in Ballyhaise Agricultural College to complete these courses. To commence additional new courses, Teagasc would require sanction for temporary education staff on a two year contract basis as the contracts for some of the existing temporary staff are due to expire by the end of 2016. Currently, Teagasc has no commitment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on education staff for 2017 and, as such, it is unable to plan any further courses at this time until this staffing situation is resolved.

The green certificate qualifies a person as a trained farmer, and that could be in horticulture, agriculture, forestry or equine studies. It is, first and foremost, about education. Having a green certificate is one of the conditions of stamp duty exemption and a transfer of land to a son or a daughter. It also meets the criteria for schemes or grants that may be available from time to time. In other words, it is about incentivising education. It has been hugely successful in educating young farmers in proven farm practices, and in incentivising the succession of farms.

As the Minister of State is aware, the contribution by the agricultural community to the economy of this country is immense. Thousands of jobs depend on it. At the very foundation of its success are the primary producers, the farmers, working the land, milking the cows and growing the crops. We can all see how agriculture has developed and changed over the decades. Our farmers and our agribusiness compete on global markets. Each generation of farmers brings new methods and better ways of doing things. Education and the green cert is central to all of that. I ask the Minister to sanction the funding necessary for the colleges to put the required staff in place to ensure that these very worthwhile courses can commence and be completed without delay.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Creed, I wish to thank Teagasc education staff for their hard work and dedication in managing the unprecedented demand for the adult green certificate programme, which is delivered on a part-time and distance education basis at Teagasc agricultural colleges and at its local and regional education centres.

While I am not in a position to comment on the staffing issues that pertain in particular locations as that is an internal operational matter for Teagasc and not the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I understand that Teagasc target available teaching resources where demand for training courses is greatest. The Department has worked closely with Teagasc to address staffing issues with regard to the delivery of the adult green certificate programme.The current exceptional demand reflects renewed interest and opportunities in agriculture but is also directly linked to the educational requirements of the young farmers scheme and the national reserve, which require applicants to have a prescribed level 6 agriculture qualification - a green certificate or an equivalent in order to qualify for payment. This was to ensure that payments were targeted at trained young farmers with a genuine interest in farming as a career. Approximately, 2,000 young farmers require places on the adult green cert arising from the education requirements of the young farmers scheme and the national reserve. The Department was concerned that if the additional green certificate places were not made available, young farmers who would otherwise qualify for EU-funded payments would be refused payment or would fail to qualify for full payment.

In order to address this situation, it was agreed that the additional temporary resources would be provided to Teagasc to enable it to rapidly expand the number of green certificate places and clear the backlog of applications in the shortest possible timeframe. In conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Teagasc was approved to appoint 20 new temporary education officers in 2014 and again in mid-2015 on two-year employment contracts. It enabled Teagasc to dramatically increase enrolments from a typical year of 500 to over 1,500. As Teagasc continued to experience strong demand for the adult green certificate over and above the pre-existing high levels of demand, it was allocated 30 temporary posts in November 2015 bringing the overall number of teaching posts sanctioned to 70. In addition, the Department also approved seven temporary administrative staff for a two-year period to address the huge volume of course administration that arose from the unprecedented demand.

I understand, that while a small number of temporary teachers have still to be recruited by Teagasc, most have been hired and are now working on the green cert programme helping to deliver record numbers of enrolments, which are forecasted to top 4,500 for the period 2014 to 2016. It is our expectation that the 70 additional posts will substantially clear the backlog of applications for the adult green certificate ensuring that those young farmers who formally applied for a place can be accommodated. The question of renewing some of these posts for a further two-year period was raised with my Department recently. However, it is important to note that the conditions attached by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform stipulate that all temporary contracts - 77 in total - must be phased out as their expiration dates arise. In addition, under the delegated sanction framework governing staff numbers in Teagasc, there is a prohibition on the establishment of contracts of indefinite duration for temporary staff, which would arise in this instance if the 77 temporary contracts approved to date were renewed for a further two-year period.

More generally, the agreed delegated sanction arrangements for Teagasc provide it with greater flexibility over permanent staff appointments in research, advisory and education. The arrangements enable Teagasc to replace staff when they retire and to make 75 new permanent appointments, subject to compliance with multi-annual pay ceilings. While Teagasc must remain within its overall pay budget, the flexibility provided by the new arrangements will allow it to fill critical vacancies and to react faster when such vacancies arise in the future. I understand some appointments have been made in the education area to meet the current demand for places. Within the parameters of that overarching policy, the question of allocating additional resources to particular locations remains an operational matter for Teagasc. The arrangements implemented to date have greatly assisted Teagasc in meeting the current exceptional demand for the adult green certificate. Of course, the training of so many young farmers since 2014, which is 4,500 to date, is a very positive development for the agrifood sector both in terms of supporting structural adjustment and encouraging young educated farmers to remain in and enter farming. In prioritising supports for trained young farmers under the young farmers scheme and the national reserve, the Minister believes we can look forward to an increasing number of young farmers playing a central role in the future development of the agricultural sector in the years ahead.The Minister, Deputy Creed, and I commend the Teagasc education staff on its proactive approach to enrolling such exceptional volumes in a very short time. We know that Teagasc teachers give substantial time and commitment over and above their everyday responsibilities in training the next generation of farmers and encouraging the adoption of new technology and practices on Irish farms. The Department was pleased to secure approval for 77 temporary posts to enable Teagasc to provide almost 3,000 extra green certificate places that would otherwise not have been made available. The allocation of 75 new permanent posts will also greatly assist Teagasc in delivering services to the farming sector, including education and training.

As can be expected, the young farmers scheme and national reserve has stimulated added interest in the adult green certificate among other farmers who have registered an interest with Teagasc in completing the course. It is not apparent, at this stage, how many of those expressions of interest will convert into formal applications. Historically, leakage between expressions of interest and formal applications is approximately 50%, however current demand may be stronger. My Department has asked Teagasc to explore other staffing measures beyond temporary recruitment to ensure any residual demand for the green certificate can be accommodated within a realistic timeframe. The Department will continue to monitor the green certificate situation in Teagasc closely. Sorry, I have to go.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Dáil bell is ringing. We had better excuse the Minister of State.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have to go, but I am a graduate of the farm apprentice scheme. I did my first year exams in Ballyhaise. I appreciate the value of it and I will be there launching a timber harvesting simulator course. I understand the need to get as many people in as quickly as possible. I am sorry I have to go.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We understand. Is that all right, Senator?

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I understand. Perhaps the Minister might have a look at the specific case and the fact that some education providers' contracts are expiring at the end of the year and people cannot complete the courses they commenced.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Yes.