Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has today (Wednesday, September 11) confirmed the schedule for in-person training events for participants in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP).
As part of the terms and conditions of SCEP, participating farmers are required to complete a mandatory training course on scheme actions and livestock handling by November 15, 2024.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has warned that failure to complete the course by the deadline will render farmers ineligible to remain in the programme and monies received will have to be repaid.
In April, Minister McConalogue confirmed that an online training course on a dedicated website would be available for farmers.
However, following concerns that some farmers, especially those in an older age cohort and those with poor internet connections, would struggle to complete that online training, the minister committed to holding in-person training events.
Training
The SCEP in-person training will take place from 9:30a.m to 2:30p.m and staff from the department will present all seven modules to farmers who cannot complete the training online.
The full schedule for the in-person training events is as follows:
- Monday, September 30: Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny;
- Tuesday, October 1: Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar Co. Westmeath;
- Wednesday, October 2: McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, Co. Mayo;
- Thursday, October 3: Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, Co. Cork;
- Friday, October 4: Jacksons Hotel, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal.
The department noted that SCEP participants cannot nominate someone to attend in their place and must bring photo ID with them to verify their attendance.
They can however bring someone to accompany them if they wish, subject to there being capacity within the training room on the day.
Attendees must register in advance with the department and remain in attendance for the full duration of the in-person training, which will last approximately five hours, including signing in and out of the training.
Farmers who do not register in advance are not guaranteed a place on the day if, when they turn up, the venue is already full to capacity.
The department said that participants should ensure that they allow adequate travel time to get to the training location as training will commence at 9:30a.m sharp.
DAFM added that there is no payment for attending the in-person training.
SCEP
As of September 9, the department said that almost 5,400 have already successfully completed the SCEP training online, with a further 2,360 currently progressing through the modules.
This means 46% of all SCEP participants have already logged onto the SCEP training system.
The department said that the online option “will be the most preferable for most participants” as they can undertake the training at a date, time and location which best suits them, rather than having to attend a specific location on a specific date.
Commenting on the in-person training events, Minister McConalogue said:
“Whilst the majority of SCEP participants will complete or have completed the training online, for those farmers who do not have internet access or the supports to access the online training, my department is holding a number of in-person SCEP training events for those who wish to do the training in person rather than online.”
To register to attend one of the in-person training events or raise queries on any aspect of SCEP or SCEP training, participants should:
- Email: [email protected];
- Call the DAFM helpdesk at 057 8674422;
- Register in person by visiting the SCEP desk in the DAFM tent at the National Ploughing Championships.