John Ellis (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the funding that has been allocated for farm safety since 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16552/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Funding for the Health and Safety Authority, the State agency with overall responsibility for the administration and enforcement of health and safety, is provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the parent Department of the authority. Safety on farms is particularly important and, at the launch of Farm Safety Week last month, I expressed my commitment to ensuring the farming sector improves its safety record. My Department includes safety aspects in its specifications for all farm buildings and animal handling facilities. There are farm safety elements in the education and training programmes provided by Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, which is financed by my Department. In addition, participants in the rural environment protection scheme undertake a Teagasc training course, which includes safety on the farm. My Department is also represented on the national farm safety partnership chaired by Teagasc.