The 20 additional fixed-term teaching positions which Teagasc will receive are set to increase the number of available Green Cert places by between 800 and 1,000, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has revealed.
The minister announced this figure in a reply to a parliamentary question on the matter from Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully.
In his answer, Minister McConalogue said: “My department has been proactively engaging with Teagasc to maximise participation in the Green Cert.
Since 2014, some 9,000 people have been accommodated on the cert with the assistance of additional temporary teachers to help bridge resource to demand deficits in some areas.
“As demand continues to remain strong, I have now secured a new approval from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that will 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.
All of the posts are self-financing with fee income from the additional enrolments covering salary and related costs.
Teagasc has also appointed an additional three permanent teachers to the northwest and northeast catchment, the minister added.