Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 November 2014
67. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork does not meet the educational requirements to be approved as a GLAS-FAS planner-adviser in view of the fact that they have the necessary qualifications and considerable work experience required; and if this decision will be reviewed. [43370/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to be approved as a GLAS Advisor, an advisor must also be approved as an advisor under the Farm Advisory System (FAS) operated by my Department. The Farm Advisory System is governed by EU Regulations, which requires that advisors are suitably qualified and regularly trained. In determining the level of educational qualifications required to be a FAS/GLAS advisor, my Department must ensure that such qualifications are of an appropriate standard to meet the objectives of the various schemes on which advice is being provided. Advisors must be qualified to interpret soil tests, understand the requirements of all schemes and understand constraints of land management imposed by various land designations. Furthermore, advisors must be in a position to translate this knowledge into detailed management plans and advice for famers participating in the various schemes.
In order to ensure that advisors meet the requirements outlined above, my Department requires that all advisors must have attained a HETAC Level 8 Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Science/Land Management in Agriculture and must have taken soil science and an animal or crop production subject to a level 8 degree standard.
My Department has undertaken a detailed examination of the course content of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture completed by the person named and has determined that this course does not meet the level 8 educational qualification standard required to be approved as a FAS/GLAS advisor.
