Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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1370. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation for farm safety initiatives in each of the years 2011 to 2016 in tabular form. [38486/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine supports the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) who have primary responsibility for Health and Safety on farms.  As such, any allocations by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) are additional to those spent by the HSA. 

The figures given relate to allocations for schemes that include significant farm safety elements. 

DAFM, in conjunction with the HSA, is focused on changing farmer behaviour in relation to Health and Safety.  Research (commissioned by the HSA) has shown that behavioural change is the key to reducing the level of accidents both fatal and non-fatal, on farms.  The same research showed that farmers are generally aware of the risks, however, there were problems with farmers implementing basic safety measures.