Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons Teagasc has trained to provide health and safety tutorials; the number of persons that have been trained in health and safety by Teagasc that are over 65 years of age; the amount of money allotted to Teagasc to carry out this training; and when they have been accredited by Teagasc to provide health and safety training, the way in which these persons are evaluated to ensure the course they provide is being taught effectively. [16952/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The matters raised are operational issues for Teagasc.

Teagasc integrates occupational health and safety (OHS) strongly into its Research and Knowledge Transfer Programmes. The Teagasc OHS programme seeks to assist farmers to effectively manage this dimension of operating a farm. All major Teagasc events have an OHS exhibit, and the topic is strongly emphasised in newsletters, media releases and articles in Teagasc publications. Teagasc advisors provide advice on OHS at events (e.g. farm walks, discussion groups) and during farm advisory visits. Research is currently in progress related to farmer OHS adoption and farmers’ health. 

I am advised by Teagasc that 38 staff members are trained to provide OHS training to farmers related to the HSA Code of Practice for Preventing Injury and Occupational Ill Health in Agriculture incorporating a Farm Safety, Code of Practice - Risk Assessment Document. The 38 staff have a Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) Level 5 (or higher) qualification in OHS or meet HSA specifications for delivery training on the Farm Safety, Code of Practice – Risk Assessment.

Teagasc does not record farmer age for OHS training, however, previous research indicates that roughly a third of farmers who completed the Farm Safety, Code of Practice - Risk Assessment Document were over 65 years old. I understand that research undertaken by Teagasc among participants in OHS training shows that 98% found the training worthwhile and would recommend it to other farmers.

Teagasc is funded by my Department to provide research, advisory and training services to the agricultural sector. The grant allocation for 2017 is in excess of €128m. The allocation of funding to particular services is an operational matter for Teagasc. I understand that because Teagasc work in the OHS area is fully integrated in its education and training, advisory and research work, it does not have estimates of the OHS component cost.   

Teagasc are also contracted to deliver health and safety training under my Department’s Knowledge Transfer Programme to approximately 500 approved Knowledge Transfer Facilitators. Approximately 250 of such approved Knowledge Transfer Facilitators are directly employed by Teagasc. This training provides them with the skill to complete the health and safety component of the Farm Improvement Plan with the farmer participants in the programme.

Additionally all participants of the Teagasc Green Cert programme complete the mandatory Teagasc Farm Safety course workbook and the HSA, Farm Safety, Code of Practice - Risk Assessment Document.