“Consideration must be given to those farmers juggling both on and off farm off farm work.”

BDGP training courses are mandatory for participants of the scheme and must be completed by an October deadline.

“I would call on Teagasc and those providing the training courses to make evening and weekend courses available to those who are unable to attend during the week. More and more farmers are having to supplement their incomes with off farm work. Running a percentage of these courses at evenings and weekends is a simple measure but one that ICSA believes would make a big difference”, he said.