With less than a fortnight to the deadline, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed to Agriland that over 5,300 farmers still have to complete the mandatory training under the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP).
As part of the terms and conditions of SCEP, participating farmers are required to fully complete the training course on scheme actions and livestock handling by November 15, 2024.
This course can either be completed online or through attending one of the DAFM in-person training days.
The department has warned that failure to complete the course by this deadline will render farmers ineligible to remain in the programme and monies received will have to be repaid.
SCEP
As of last Friday (November 1), the department said that 3,673 had yet to log on to the SCEP training system and commence the course.
“A further 1,634 have commenced the training online, but have yet to complete it in full.
“Farmers are reminded they must have the training completed in full (either online or in person) by November 15, 2024,” a DAFM spokesperson said.
In April, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue confirmed that a dedicated website would be available for SCEP farmers to complete the training.
However, following concerns that some farmers, especially those in an older age cohort and those with poor internet connections, would struggle to complete the online course, the minister committed to holding in-person training events.
In September, the department announced a series of five in-person training events around the country.
This was followed by confirmation last month that there would be a final series of in-person training events.
These additional SCEP in-person training events will take place from 9.30a.m to 2.30p.m – on dates between November 6 and 13 – in Clare, Cork, Kerry, Leitrim, Galway and Meath. Full details of these events can be found by clicking here.
Attendees must register in advance and be 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.
SCEP participants cannot nominate someone to attend in their place and must bring photo ID with them to verify their attendance, the DAFM confirmed.
The department has said that the online option has been the most preferable for most participants as they have the flexibility to undertake the training at a date, time and location which best suits them, rather than having to attend a specific location on a certain date.