Calls for assurances on Green Cert courses for farmers



A Sligo/Leitrim TD is calling for assurances that Green Cert courses for young farmers will start in the North West this Autumn.

Fianna Fail Deputy Eamon Scanlon raised the issue in Dail questions to Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Michael Creed.

One of Deputy Scanlon’s questions related to the recruitment of Green Cert instructors in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal,

The minister said Teagasc was approved to appoint 70 temporary teachers to meet the demand for courses, and that enabled Teagsc to increas enrolments to 4,500 from 2014 to 2016.

As Teagasc continued to experience strong demand for the adult Green Cert, its request for 15 new temporary teachers was granted earlier this year.

Minister Creed said he understood recruitment is underway and that it is planned to assign the new teachers in the next few months.

A number of these posts would be assigned to the North West to run new courses to start in October.

Deputy Scanlon also asked about Green Cert courses to be delivered this year.

Minister Creed also said he understood Teagasc is looking at starting four new part-time Green Cert classes in October in the Sligo, Leitrim and Dongal region.

These will be in Ballymote in Sligo, Manorhamilton in Leitrim and Ballybofey and Letterkenny in Donegal.

However, the number of classes and locations will not be finalised until later in the year.

The proposed classes will bring the total number of Green Cert classes in the Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal region to 16, and the total number of students enrolled to close on 500.

Deputy Scanlon has been telling Ocean Fm News why it’s so important these courses are available:

 



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