Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he will take to reduce the waiting times for the Teagasc distance learning green certificate courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33085/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Teagasc deliver the Green Cert on a full-time, part-time and distance education basis at Teagasc Regional Education Centres and Agricultural Colleges. The scheduling of Green Cert courses is an operational matter for Teagasc.  In line with new Dáil procedures, information regarding such matters can be requested directly from Teagasc using the dedicated email address: oireachtas@teagasc.ie. 

I am advised that Teagasc Green Cert enrolments trebled in the period 2014 to 2016 - from 500 in a typical year to over 1,500 - arising from the education requirements of the Young Farmers Scheme and National Reserve, which required successful applicants to hold a Green Cert or equivalent in order to qualify for payment.

It was agreed that Teagasc could appoint 70 temporary education officers to rapidly expand the number of available Green Cert places. 7 temporary administrators were also approved to address the huge volume of course administration that arose from the unprecedented demand. The arrangements helped Teagasc enrol 4,500 Green Cert learners since 2014.

As Teagasc continue to experience strong demand for the adult Green Cert (part-time and distance education), a request for 15 new temporary teaching posts was recently approved bringing the total number of sanctioned Green Cert teachers since 2014 to 85. I understand that Teagasc is considering other resource options to help address projected demand on a phased basis to 2019.