Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of farm inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Authority by county in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35980/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked for the number of farm inspections carried out by the HSA. However, visits to farms by HSA inspectors include routine unannounced inspections to monitor compliance with health and safety legislation and also to investigate farm accidents. Typically in any one year there can also be between 60 – 90 investigations of serious and fatal accidents on farms. The number of overall farm inspections and investigations carried out since 2013 and the number of NACE Category A (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing) inspections and investigations by county are set out in Appendices 1 and 2 below.

The HSA’s database cannot break the number of farm inspections down by county. However it can break down the number of inspections and investigations carried out since 2013 by county for NACE (European industrial activity classification) Sector A which covers Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing. The county figures are given in the table and are higher than those for just farms. Typically the total NACE A county figures are over 90% farm inspections with forestry and fishing figures being higher in the counties where these activities are concentrated. As an inspector may cover more than one county he/she may concentrate on different counties in different years.

The HSA plans to carry out 2,000 farm, 50 forestry and 50 fishing inspections in 2017.

Since 2014 the HSA has redirected some of its inspection resources to engaging directly with farmers on other accident prevention initiatives. In 2017 HSA inspectors have participated in over 80 Teagasc organised Knowledge Transfer Group meetings, farm safety walks and presentations to farmers, many of which are organised by the farming representative bodies. This has enabled the HSA to direct its message to over 4,000 farmers this year.

Appendix 1

Farm inspections and investigations 2013 – 2017

Appendix 2

Number of NACE Category A Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Inspections and Investigations by County 2013 to 20^thJuly 2017