Overall college enrolments for Teagasc level 5, level 6, and Teagasc-linked higher education courses in agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry for the 2016/17 academic year stand at 1,873. This is 5% lower than 2015 figures. However, overall enrolments remain at 2014 and 2013 levels.

“Provisional enrolment data for the entry level five certificate in agriculture indicate that 570 students commenced their studies, a decline of about 10% relative to the 2015/16 academic year," said Teagasc head of education Tony Pettit. "These are mostly school leavers going to the four Teagasc and three private colleges."

He added that despite fluctuations in enrolments across programmes, total combined enrolments are broadly comparable with recent years.

"However, the improving employment opportunities leading to an upsurge in enrolments in other sectors, such as craft apprenticeship programmes, indicate enrolments to agricultural colleges are beyond their exceptional peak of recent years,” Pettit said.

For the adult Green Cert courses, which include distance learning and part-time options, interest remains high.

“Teagasc expects to have accommodated nearly 4,400 enrolees to the adult Green Cert programme in the period from autumn 2014 to the end of 2016," Pettit said. "A further 3,600 people who have formally logged their interest in the Teagasc Green Cert programme have yet to be accommodated.”