Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
96. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department collates statistics on the number of persons who obtain a green cert qualification; and, if so, if he will provide a year-by-year breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46378/23]
View answerThe Green Cert programme is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for assessing the fitness of providers and validating education programmes in Ireland leading to QQI awards.
My Department does not collate statistics on the number of persons who obtain the Green Cert. It is important to note that the Green Cert is delivered by a number of different education providers from across the further education system. Teagasc, which operates under the aegis of my Department, is the largest provider in the State. Some Employment and Training Boards (ETBs), which operate under the aegis of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science also deliver the Green Cert as do a small number of private providers.
Insofar as my Department is concerned, we work in tandem with Teagasc to maximise participation in their Green Cert programme. I have asked Teagasc to directly provide the Deputy with yearly statistics on completions over the last 10 years.
