Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 November 2020
244. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the educational qualifications necessary to be eligible to take up a position as a technical agricultural officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35457/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department engages in workforce planning to assess its current and future recruitment needs. The educational qualifications relquired and the relevant selection criteria are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis to ensure that they meet these needs.
A recruitment campaign for the role of Technical Agricultural Officer was most recently advertised in late July by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The assessment process is being managed by PAS and candidates are currently being called to interview. The qualifications required for the role are set out in the competition booklet as follows:
"Candidates must, on or before the closing date of 20th August 2020:
Hold the Leaving Certificate or a qualification that is acceptable to PAS as being of an equivalent or higher academic standard (other than any qualification submitted to meet the technical educational requirements noted below)
AND
A. Hold an Advanced Certificate in Agriculture at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications
Or
B. Hold a qualification in Agriculture at level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications
Or
C. Hold a qualification at level 6 or higher in an area such as horticulture, plant health, animal health, animal welfare or food safety that is acceptable to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as being relevant to the role of Technical Agricultural Officer. In addition the subject matter of such qualification must include significant content relating to either Animal Husbandry or Crop Production."
A previous TAO Recruitment campaign was advertised by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in May 2018 and the various stages of assessment took place in the latter months of that year. The qualifications as set down for the 2018 campaign were as follows:
"Candidates must, on or before the 7th June 2018
1. Have obtained in the Leaving Certificate Examination a minimum of grade D (Ordinary Level) in 5 subjects to include Mathematics and English (or a qualification that is acceptable to PAS as being at least of an equivalent standard)
AND
A. Hold an advanced certificate in Agriculture or Horticulture at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications
OR
B. Hold a qualification in Agriculture or Horticulture at level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications
OR
C. Hold a qualification at level 6 or higher that is acceptable to both the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and PAS as being at least equivalent to A or B above in areas such as animal health, animal welfare, plant health and food safety."
