Minister McConalogue confirms in person training for SCEP participants

Following on from the launch of the SCEP training at the end of April, to address the concerns raised by farmers, 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 re-iterating the significant advantages for SCEP participants of the online option, the minister acknowledged that, for some farmers, online access could be problematic saying: “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.”

The minister said, “While I am providing an in-person option, the expectation is that online training will be preferential for 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.”

The minister concluded by stating “my department will be monitoring the uptake of the SCEP training regularly and will issue targeted communication as required to participants to help them complete the training”.

Farmers must have the training completed by the 15th November to avoid removal from SCEP and loss of any payments already received. Further details of the in-person training events will be published in due course.

The training is available to access online at www.sceptraining.ie. Each module should take, on average, around 30 minutes to complete.

Participants can do all the modules at once or complete them in stages. It is possible to partially complete a module and pick up where you left off the next time you log in. However, all modules must be completed in full by 15 November 2024 to be deemed compliant with the training requirement.

Any queries on any aspect of programme implementation or training, can be directed to the department’s Helpdesk at 057 867 4422 or e-mail scep@ agriculture.gov.ie.