Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1068. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a diploma awarded to a person (details supplied) in the United Kingdom but which is not being recognised by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10470/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The current minimum agricultural education requirement to qualify for access to Department of Agriculture schemes and Revenue tax exemptions is ‘ Level 6 ’ on the National Framework of Qualifications. Qualifications that meet the minimum standard are listed in Revenue Leaflet SD2B and include the level 6 Teagasc Green Cert. Teagasc reviews non-Irish awards to assess equivalence to SD2B awards . The Department of Agriculture has no role in the matter. It involves an assessment of the ‘level’ of the award in terms of the comparable level on the National Framework of Qualifications and a review of the course content.

I am advised that Teagasc reviewed the National Diploma in Land based Technology from the Reaseheath College on behalf of the individual concerned. It was deemed comparable to a level 5 award on the National Framework of Qualifications. The course content was found to be orientated towards agricultural mechanisation/engineering and not agricultural production as required for SD2B equivalence.

As the Diploma is not of equivalent standard in terms of content and level of award, Teagasc advised the person in question that he is required to complete the Green Cert programme to meet the minimum education requirement.