Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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459. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to request Teagasc to review a person's (details supplied) eligibility for inclusion in a course and to grant permission to the person to participate in it as a matter of priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17920/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Teagasc is the main provider of further education in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies. The assessment of eligibility for a Teagasc training course is solely an operational matter for Teagasc and I have no function in this matter.

I understand that the person concerned submitted an application to Teagasc for the Distance Education Green Cert Eligibility for this course is restricted to holders of a “Level 6 or Higher Major Award” in a non-agricultural discipline. The onus is on the applicant to provide proof that their award meets this entry requirement.

Teagasc reviewed the application submitted by the person in question and it was found that her award did not meet the educational eligibility criteria for the Distance Education Green Cert. She was informed that her application could not be processed further.

However, it is open to her to apply to join either the Teagasc Green Cert part-time or full-time training programmes for which there are no minimum education requirements. Further information on course availability is obtainable from her local Teagasc education officer.