Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the qualification known as AGITO in New Zealand, awarded to persons successfully completing a course in dairy farming, has international recognition and if it is recognised by the Irish authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2785/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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AGITO is the New Zealand Industry Training Organisation for Agriculture. It is one of New Zealand's largest industry training organisations, helping more than 10,000 people each year to gain the knowledge and skills needed for a productive career in agriculture. AgITO works closely with a number of government funded training providers offering NZQA registered qualifications in agriculture sectors ranging from dairy, sheep, pork, cattle to rural servicing. In Ireland it is the function of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to determine the international recognition or otherwise of educational awards and the comparability of such awards to education levels on the Irish National Qualifications Framework.

On foot of an overall positive determination by QQI in relation to AgITO educational awards, Teagasc could, if requested by QQI, consider the equivalence or otherwise of such awards with its educational programmes for farmers.

No such request has been received to date.