Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Farm Advisory System (FAS) was established to ensure that Advisers have the appropriate skills, knowledge and competency to provide suitable advice to farmers on a range of issues including but not limited to, land eligibility, Conditionality, scheme applications and to help farmers to meet their obligations and avoid financial reductions under EU and nationally funded Schemes.

Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No. 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council requires Member States to provide a Farm Advisory System (FAS).

The minimum educational requirements for eligibility to apply to be a FAS Adviser are as follows:

The applicant must:

• Hold a primary degree qualification at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in Agricultural Science,

and,

• Have taken soil science and an animal or crop production subject as part of the Level 8 Degree.

Officials in my Department assess each application / educational transcript to ensure that the applicant meets these minimum educational requirements. Some applicants, who have not met the minimum educational requirements because they are deficient in some of the core modules are allowed to supplement their existing qualifications as appropriate.

In these cases, the additional modules taken must be at and equivalent to a level 8 standard and has generally been delivered within a level 8 Bachelor of Agricultural Science course.

In the event that an applicant submits level 9 qualifications in addition to their level 8 qualifications then all of these are assessed and if the minimum educational requirements are attained, they are deemed eligible for FAS application.

I remain committed to ensuring that the minimum educational requirements are met before an applicant can be approved to apply to become a FAS Adviser.