Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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519. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the green cert; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2598/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Teagasc is the main provider of further education courses in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies. In excess of 3,500 people participate annually in these courses. Typically, over two-thirds of learners attend the seven agricultural colleges in the Teagasc network,  with the balance attending part-time courses at 12 regional education centres and at local advisory offices.

The delivery of courses is an operational matter in the first instance for Teagasc. They recognise the challenges posed for part-time farmers in attending courses and every effort is made to accommodate them, by delivering training in a flexible manner, balanced against the need to maintain education quality. It must also be appreciated that agricultural education by its nature requires a high level of hands on skills based instruction to encourage learners to develop proficiency in farm tasks and complete farm based assignment and projects.

Insofar as the Green Cert programme is concerned, it has been developed to meet the training requirements for both full-time and part-time farmers, and is provided on both a part-time and distance education basis to facilitate people who have an off farm job.