2587. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of female participants in green cert and related agricultural education programmes in each of the past five years; whether participation rates have increased and measures being taken to further increase participation rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57187/26]

My Department does not collate statistics on participation in the Green Cert and related agricultural education programmes, which are delivered by public and private providers from across the further education system. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is the national agency responsible for validating education programmes in Ireland leading to QQI awards.

I would advise the Deputy to contact QQI for details on female participation in agricultural education.

Schemes and supports are available from my Department under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 to support young, trained farmers who hold a recognised qualification in agricultural education. These supports are complemented by a suite of national taxation measures targeted at young, trained farmers.

More generally, I am very much committed to promoting gender equality and supporting the participation of women in farming. My Department is supporting greater female participation through the Women Farmer Capital Investment Scheme (TAMS 3). It provides increased level of supports to female farmers to meet the considerable capital costs associated with establishing a farm enterprise. Grant aid is paid on approved expenditure at the rate of 60% up to the applicable maximum investment ceiling of €90,000 per holding.