The lack of support funding for agriculture students has again been highlighted, this time in the area of funding for computer equipment.
The Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson in the Seanad said yesterday (Monday, October 26) that agriculture students in Teagasc colleges are not entitled to avail of the third-level ‘laptop fund’ as things stand.
Senator Tim Lombard noted that the Department of Further and Higher Education had established a fund for student devices worth €15 million, as part of a €168 million support package for further and higher education to deal with the effects of Covid-19, which was announced over the summer.
However, because Teagasc’s third-level funding comes from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, rather than the Department of Further and Higher Education, its students are not entitled to these laptops or other devices.
“It is imperative that these agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry students are not disadvantaged or prohibited from online learning due to their higher education facility’s unique funding arrangement,” Lombard stressed.
The Co. Cork senator continued: “These students are absolutely no different to any other student in the state and are absolutely entitled to the same supports to facilitate their online learning during this challenging time.
Given that we are now in Level 5, this issue must be resolved immediately.
“I have raised this issue with the Minister for Agriculture [Charlie McConalogue] and the Minister for Higher Education [Simon Harris] and asked them to prioritise this issue as a matter of urgency,” Lombard said.
He concluded: “These students’ learning must not be compromised and funding for equipment must be made available as soon as possible.”
McConalogue seeks meeting with Harris
Earlier this month, Minister McConalogue said he would seek a meeting with Minister Harris on the issue of funding for agricultural students.
Speaking to RTÉ on October 16, Minister McConalogue said he would seek a meeting with his government colleague on the exclusion of agricultural students from third-level student Covid-19 support measures.
The move was welcomed by Macra na Feirme president Thomas Duffy, who had said “agricultural students are experiencing the same financial difficulties as any other student. It is critical that they are not discriminated and disadvantaged.”