Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of persons killed or injured in farm accidents during 2006 and to date in 2007; the steps she will take to improve safety practices on farms and to reduce the number of farm deaths and injuries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21793/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am, of course, very concerned about the level of safety on our farms. Last year 18 people died on Irish farms (8 of these people were aged over 70) and this year up to 1 August 8 people have died. It is estimated that there are some 3,000 injuries on farms each year. I strongly support the work of The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which is charged with overall responsibility for promotion of workplace health, and safety.

The Farm Safety Partnership, an advisory committee to the HSA that is made up of representatives from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food Teagasc and other farming groups, supports and co-ordinates the majority of research and promotional activities in relation to farm safety. On a practical level the HSA stand at the ploughing championships featured machinery safety demonstrations. A Code of Practice for the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational ill health in Agriculture was launched by the HSA at the ploughing championships in September 2006. The aim of the Code of Practice is to provide practical guidance to farmers and to help improve the level of safety and health in the agriculture sector. My Department in conjunction with the Department for Labour Affairs circulated some 160,000 copies of the Code of Practice to all farmers in late November/early December 2006. Teagasc, the statutory body responsible for training in the agriculture sector, aim to provide training for 9000 farmers on the Code of Practice in 2007. I would strongly urge farmers to attend this course.

There is also serious concern at the number of elderly farmers suffering accidents on the farm and to highlight this issue, the Health and Safety Authority issued leaflets on "safety and elderly farmers" at the Ploughing Championships this year.

We are also concerned with child safety on farms and the HSA, together with Teagasc has developed a new child safety book. This was launched by Minister for Labour Affairs at the Ploughing Championships this year. This free book illustrates the hazards, which may be encountered on a farm, and again I would strongly urge all farming parents to read the book with their children and thus ensure that the safety message gets across.

The provision of training is of utmost importance and especially in the area of Health and Safety. A twenty-hour training course is mandatory for all participants in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS). My Department has ensured that one module of this training is devoted to Health and Safety in farming.

Additionally, under the new Farm Improvement Scheme, grant aid may be provided against investment made for the purposes of increasing on-farm safety. Eligible items include:

Safety rails on silo walls

Safety fencing/solid cover for external slurry and effluent stores

Safety covers on external agitation points or manholes

Removal of existing internal agitation point and replacement by gang slat

Replacement of damaged slats (single/ twin/ gang) by gang slats

Replacement of a hinged door/sheeted gate with a sliding door on animal housing

Finally, I would stress to all farmers the need to follow the guidance of the Health and Safety Authority and take ownership of the Code of Practice for the Prevention of Accidents and Occupational ill health in Agriculture.