Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

20. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the measures his Department has taken to tackle the issue of farm safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42989/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Both my Department and I are very strongly committed to promoting Farm Safety in collaboration with the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the organisation with primary responsibility for securing health and safety at work. My Department has taken a number of steps this year and over recent years in tandem with some of the other State and industry organisations to raise awareness of the problem and educate farmers and their families on the dangers of working in this industry.

Most recently, I launched a new Farm Safety Scheme for the grant-aiding of items relating to farm safety. I have committed funding of €12.2 million to the scheme which was opened on the 22^ndOctober this year and covers items such as animal handling facilities, safety agitation points for slurry tanks and safety cages under translucent roof sheets, to name but a few of the items being supported. This scheme will see a significant investment in farm safety on farms in the coming months.

In addition, I supported The National Farm Safety Awareness day on Monday 21^stJuly 2014; The ‘EMBRACE Farm’ National Day of Remembrance for farm accidents on 29^thJune 2014 and attended the launch at the national ploughing championships 2014 of the ‘EMBRACE Farm’ ‘What's Left Behind!’ series of videos, with testimonies of families that have endured tragic loss in farm accidents.

To support bereaved families, my Department is establishing a co-ordinated service / single point of contact for families who have suffered a sudden loss and who may not have experience in dealing with the type of day to day issues that might bring them in contact with the Department in relation to schemes and services. Also this year my Department has issued text alerts to farmers in relation to increasing the awareness of farm safety. Further to this, a Farm Safety leaflet has been included with the Single Payment application packs for the last three years in association with the Health and Safety Authority and the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee. This was distributed to over 130,000 farmers each year and has targeted different risks in each year. In addition a Code of Practice aimed at reducing farm accidents was issued to all farms.

In addition to all of this work, there are ‘Health and Safety’ guidelines included in all of the farm building specifications drawn up the Department for the construction of agricultural buildings and structures. It is important that we all support a change in approach to safety on our farms.