Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase farm safety; and if he will consider introducing a farm safety scheme similar to the GLAS scheme. [7807/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Farm safety is a critical issue facing farming today. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. In 2016 there were 21 work related fatal accidents on farms compared to 19 in 2015, this while the overall fatal accident rate fell between 2015 and 2016 from 56 to 44. The 21 fatal farm accidents account for more than 47% of all the fatal work accidents in 2016, while farming accounts for less than 6% of the workforce. Already in 2017 there has been one fatal farm accident.

The rate of accidents on farms remains far too high and it is important the focus on farm safety is increased. Safety must become an integral part of farming culture.

While the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has primary responsibility for Health and Safety on farms, I am fully supportive of their work and my Department are active members of the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (FSPAC) and are in regular contact with the Health and Safety Authority. The FSPAC consists of members from a wide range of bodies within agriculture and looks at how to promote and develop farm safety.

As part of the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme (AWNSS) and also the Young Farmers capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS) and Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS), there is a wide range of safety elements that may be grant-aided. Examples of safety elements being grant-aided are replacement slats, animal handling facilities, rewiring buildings, safety fencing around slurry tanks, tank extensions to provide external agitation points, all of which will assist in making the farm a safer place.

In addition, as part of all of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes it is mandatory for all applicants to have completed a minimum of a ½ day farm safety course before they can claim grant-aid.

Further, there are ‘Health and Safety’ guidelines in all ‘Building Specifications,’ drawn up by my Department for the construction of agricultural buildings and structures. These specifications set out the minimum standard to which grant-aided structures must be completed and are freely available to all farmers undertaking construction works.

As part of the Knowledge Transfer Groups, under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme, there is a mandatory Health and Safety element included. These groups will directly engage in excess of 20,000 farmers with farm safety.  

Beyond this, a Farm Safety leaflet is included with the Single/Basic Payment application packs, distributed annually to over 130,000 farmers. This is a joint initiative between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the HSA and the FSPAC and has targeted different risks in each of the last five years. 

Behavioural change is what is required to prevent many accidents. It is a case of being aware of the dangers and taking the time to do what is necessary to minimise the risk.  While there are many risks in farming, farming does not have to be a dangerous occupation. There are plenty of ways to reduce the danger without spending significant money. Farmers should be encouraged to take time to plan buildings and work.

It is important for everyone to continually highlight the need for farmers to think Safety First in all tasks they perform, no matter the pressure. No individual action or organisation can solve this difficult problem that impacts so negatively on so many lives each year.