Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if capacity can be increased for a course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12179/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The College in question comes under the remit of SOLAS and, ultimately, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Insofar as my Department is concerned, we have proactively engaged with Teagasc to maximise participation in the Green Cert within the Teagasc network of agricultural colleges and regional education centres.

Approval has been secured from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to enable Teagasc recruit a further 20 Green Cert teachers on two year contracts. It will increase the number of available places on the part-time and distance education Green Cert options by between 800 to 1,000.

I understand that Teagasc will assign 15 of the temporary teachers to the Northwest and Northeast of the country where demand for the Green Cert is most acute. Teagasc has also appointed an additional three permanent teachers to the Northwest and Northeast catchment.