Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 535: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider arranging at least one or two courses during the summer months for young farmers to pursue an 18-day course which is part of the qualifying condition to qualify as fully trained farmer. [15073/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This is an operational matter for Teagasc, a non-commercial semi state body operating under the aegis of my Department. Under the Agriculture, (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, research and advisory services to the Agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities.

Teagasc provide a wide range of full and part-time agricultural and horticultural courses through their network of agricultural colleges, regional education centres and in collaboration with Institutes of Technologies and Universities.

I am advised that each year they put on a programme of Advanced Certificate in Agriculture courses for Non-agricultural Award Holders. These courses are designed to facilitate people with non-agricultural awards and, as such, are run on a part-time/distance learning basis. The programmes are largely delivered online but do require attendance at a Teagasc location for 18 to 20 days for the purpose of Skills Training, Discussion Group Meetings and Course Assessment. The programme includes a period of home farm placement extending over a 12 months period in order to provide participants with a range of learning experiences extending over a full farming calendar year.

In 2012 Teagasc is putting on seven such programmes across the country with a total of 275 participants. The timing of the attendance at the centre is based on the availability of facilities and staff for skills training and also to facilitate the best timing for discussion group meetings. For these reasons Teagasc advises that it is not possible to confine the programme to the summer months.