Agriculture Act (Northern Ireland) 1949

N.I. Education and Research

5 F1 Provision for education and instruction, scholarships and undertaking of research. N.I.

[F2 (1) The Department may provide, equip and maintain colleges and other institutions for the purpose of instructing persons in agriculture and related subjects.

(2) The Department may—

(a) provide instruction in agriculture and related subjects;

(b) arrange for the provision by others of such instruction;

and arrangements under paragraph (b) may include the provision by the Department of financial or other assistance.]

F3 [(2B) The Ministry may, with the approval of the Ministry of Finance, make schemes subject to negative resolution providing for the payment by the Ministry of sums by way of grant to or in respect of persons who participate in any course provided under [F4 this section] or who provide such a course or other facilities.]

(3) The Ministry may, with the approval of the Ministry of Finance, make schemes providing for the payment by the Ministry of sums by way of scholarships for the purposes of enabling or assisting persons to secure instruction (whether at a school, college or other institution provided or maintained by the Ministry or at any university or other institution or selected farm or other establishment in Northern Ireland or elsewhere) or to undertake research in any subject or course of subjects specified in such schemes.

[F2 (4) The Department may—

(a) undertake research in agriculture and related subjects for such purposes as the Department thinks appropriate;

(b) assist such research in any manner it thinks fit, including by the provision of financial assistance.]

[F2 (5) In this section—

• “financial assistance” means assistance by way of grants or loans on such conditions (including conditions as to repayment) as the Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel determine;

• “related subjects” includes (in so far as they do not fall within the definition of agriculture)—

  (a)

  the manufacture, processing, packaging, marketing and supply of food;

  (b)

  veterinary science and the keeping and care of animals;

  (c)

  the use of equipment, technology and business practices in the carrying on of agricultural activities;

  (d)

  the protection of the natural rural environment;

  (e)

  rural development and enterprise;

  (f)

  forestry;

  (g)

  fisheries;

  (h)

  any science or applied science relating to any of the above; and

  (i)

  any other subject appearing to the Department to conduce to a knowledge of the science and practice of agriculture.]

F1 1964 c.13 (NI)

F2 2004 NI 23

F3 1970 c.20 (NI)

F4 Words in s. 5(2B) substituted (1.8.2006) by The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I.2006/1915 (N.I.11)), arts. 1(2), 42(2)

[F5 5A Fees for instruction provided by the Department N.I.

(1) The Department may, in accordance with regulations under this section, charge fees for or in connection with the provision by the Department under section 5 of any form of instruction.

(2) The Department may by regulations make provision as to—

(a) the matters in respect of which fees are to be charged under this section;

(b) the amount of fees to be charged under this section in respect of any matter;

(c) the persons by whom such fees are payable;

(d) the time at which, and manner in which, such fees are payable;

(e) the reduction or remission of such fees in prescribed circumstances.]

F5 S. 5A inserted (1.8.2006) by The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1915 (N.I. 11)), arts. 1(2), 42(1)