asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether participants in the 20 hour Teagasc courses can gain credits which can be accumulated to satisfy the educational requirements of the farm improvement programme and the installation aid scheme.

In the case of applicants born before 1 January 1968 satisfactory attendance at four 20 hour specialised courses conducted by Teagasc will fulfil part of the educational requirement under the farm improvement programme and the scheme of installation aid for young farmers. In addition such applicants would require a minimum of three year's experience in farming as their principal occupation together with satisfactory attendance at a recognised course of 100 hours minimum duration.