In-person SCEP training planned for summer

To address the concerns raised by farmers following the launch of online SCEP training recently, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, confirmed that a number of in-person SCEP training events will be held later this summer.

While highlighting the advantages of online SCEP training, Minister McConalogue acknowledged that online access could be problematic for some farmers, adding: “I do not want any farmer disenfranchised in relation to this important training.

“I recognise that there are some SCEP participants who may not have internet connectivity or the support to access it and therefore I am confirming that my department will hold a number of in-person SCEP training events later in the summer for SCEP participants who wish to do the training in-person rather than online.”

Despite the provision of in-person training, Minister McConalogue expects online training to be preferred by the majority of participants “given it will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week”.

“This will allow farmers, whether full time or part time, to undertake the training at a date and time that best suits them rather than having to attend a specific location on a specific day. The online training is split into seven modules and a farmer can stop and start the training as many times as they need, once it is completed in full by 15 November 2024,” he said.

The Minister also confirmed that DAFM will be monitoring the uptake of SCEP training regularly and will issue targeted communication as required to participants to help them complete the training.

All you need to know about the SCEP course

Margaret Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer over Beef Schemes with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, featured on a recent episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss the SCEP online training course.

Listen in below:

Also read: Mandatory training course for SCEP participants launched