Mr. Martin O'Halloran:

I will try to go through the questions in the order in which they have been asked. I apologise in advance if I miss any of them but, if so, please remind me.

The online module for schools was launched late in the third quarter of last year. The evidence and the feedback is that it is being used. Notwithstanding that, we will certainly take on board the point made by Senator Maurice Cummins. We wrote to the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills asking it to bring it to the attention of all 3,500 schools. However, we will renew our efforts in that area and ensure it is brought to attention through any channel of communication.

In regard to other aspects of education, we do have initiatives at second level. There are transition year modules on safety which cover aspects of farm safety and general safety. In 2013, we ran an art and writing competition for children which saw the participation of more than 10,000 children nationally. Through that we produced a book which was distributed to every school and every library in the country:Only a Giant can Lift a Bull.It was the testimony of children themselves, their stories of farm experiences and farm accidents. It was their feedback. In terms of second level, we have been in consultation with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment as we have a concern that the curriculum for agricultural science has not been updated for a long time. We have made a submission stating that we believe it must be updated and brought into line with modern practices and modern thinking. One of the speakers mentioned the size of the animal, the size of the machinery, the speed and intensity. That has all changed, and the curriculum is based on a world of agriculture that is already 30 or 40 years back in history. We would welcome that.

We feel there would be merit in having a Safe Pass type of model. The concept is valid. Our colleagues in Teagasc touched on this, but we would envisage a link with the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme to create a positive incentive - that there would be a compulsory training element associated with the grant for improving farm safety. The training materials are available and there is a structure in place to deliver them. They are being delivered but we would like to see that go further.

In terms of the experience of farm inspections, my colleague Mr. Pat Griffin will touch on this issue. After our inspectors go to any workplace, we randomly select a number of the workplaces that have been visited by inspectors to check back on what has been the experience of that person, and overwhelmingly the experience has been positive. The number of cases of visits to farms resulting in formal enforcement is very small. I will invite Mr. Pat Griffin to cover the follow-up on inspections and how they are chosen.

Following a fatality on a farm, the arrangement is that generally the Garda will be the first responder. It is an extremely tragic event. The investigation is probably one of the most difficult and challenging that any inspector or garda will carry out. Often, inspectors will go to a farm where there has been a brutal and tragic accident. I do not want to go into the graphic details, but such accidents can be very brutal and bodies can be mutilated. That is a very traumatic experience for the people visiting and is even more traumatic for the family. After an incident occurs on the farm, every day when the family go in and out, that is a perpetual reminder of where they lost a loved one. It is not easy. We are always learning, but feedback shows that the inspectors will go when alerted to a fatal accident and will generally back away and leave their card with the family and re-engage when the family have had an opportunity to get themselves into a better place where they can engage with the regulatory body. That is a great challenge for us.

In regard to the discussion groups and the inspection process, I will hand over to my colleague, senior inspector Mr. Pat Griffin.