Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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411. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are sufficient places to accommodate the number of applicants who wish to do a green certificate course. [29163/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Green Cert is delivered by Teagasc and has been developed to meet the training requirements for part-time and full-time farmers. There are three options to complete the Green Cert; (1) on a fulltime basis in the Teagasc Agricultural Colleges which is most suitable for school leavers, (2) on a part-time basis in the Agricultural Colleges and Teagasc advisory regions where applicants are over 23 years of age, and (3) on a distance education basis in respect of applicants who have obtained a Level 6 or higher major award in a non-agricultural discipline.

The provision of places for the Green Cert is an operational matter for Teagasc. It is Teagasc policy to accommodate all farmers that require a place. I understand from Teagasc that it expects to accommodate all applicants to its fulltime Green Cert in the Agricultural Colleges for the 2018/2019 academic year. Teagasc further advise that the adult Green Cert Programme comprising part-time and distance education options is offered on a rolling basis at circa 30 locations. From a resource and logistical perspective, there is normally a waiting period for the adult Green Cert to allow for completion of course cycles and new courses to commence.

Interest has been exceptionally high in the adult Green Cert Programme in recent years due to the education requirements for some Department schemes and reflecting renewed interest in farming among young farmers. My Department approved the appointment of over 60 temporary staff to maximise participation enabling Teagasc to substantially increase Green Cert intake to over 4,000 since 2015.