Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants to date under the farm safety scheme; the funding allocated for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. It is important for everyone to continually highlight the need for farmers to think safety first in all tasks they perform - simple behavioural changes may be all that it takes to save a life. The current Safety Scheme has been designed to overcome some of the particular hazard s which may be present on farms. A total of €12.2m has been allocated to this scheme and 6,299 applications for aid were received before the final closing date in January. All applications are currently being processed in my Department.