Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1613. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new training officers being employed to provide green cert courses in County Donegal; the number on the waiting lists for these courses in County Donegal; the timeframe for the placement of these new officers; the start date for the commencement of new courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27146/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The issues raised are operational matters for Teagasc.

I am advised that the Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal Advisory Region is provisionally looking at starting 4 new Part-time Green Cert classes in October 2017 (Ballymote, Manorhamilton, Letterkenny and Ballybofey). The number of classes and locations will not be finalised until later in the year. The expected intake will be approx. 130 students (65-70 in Donegal). Teagasc plan to appoint 2 new Temporary Education Officers in Donegal to facilitate the additional intake.

I am also advised that 274 people have registered an interest in completing the Green Cert with Teagasc in Donegal. It's not clear at this stage how many will translate into formal applications and have to be accommodated on the Green Cert in due course. The 4  new classes proposed for this autumn will bring the total number of Green Cert classes in the Sligo/ Leitrim/Donegal region to 16 and the total number of students close to 500.