Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the 2018 allocation by the Health and Safety Authority for farm safety initiatives. [53652/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Health and Safety Authority has recently received notification of its Exchequer funding allocation for 2018 and it will shortly determine funding allocations across its various work sectors including farm safety initiatives. These funding allocations can vary from year to year as the Authority decides on how to prioritise its non-pay funding in line with its overall Programme of Work. It is likely that projected expenditure on farm safety initiatives in 2018 will at least be maintained at 2017 levels i.e. €287,000 approximately. The HSA’s Programme of Work for 2018 is near completion. The funding allocations will be subject to final approval by the Board of the Authority.

It should also be noted that the Authority has recently completed a recruitment campaign for 11 inspector posts, six of which are field inspection posts who will have an involvement in future farm inspection campaigns. Four of these six posts have been filled and will be starting with the Authority in early January 2018.

The priority tasks for the HSA in relation to engagement with the farming sector for 2018 will continue to include the following;

- ongoing delivery of the Farm Safety Partnership Action Plan, 2016 to 2018;

- continuing awareness campaigns through the media, events and advertising targeted at the agricultural sector;

- promotion of good health for farmers;

- roll out of the revised Code of Practice on farm safety;

- finalising an e-learning tool on tractor and machinery safety;

- focusing on child safety on farms through programmes at primary and post-primary school level, letters have already issued to over 3,000 such schools;

- engagement of all representative organisations and stakeholders in the challenge;

In addition, I will continue to work with, and support, the Health and Safety Authority on the development of targeted initiatives in 2018 to seek through a collaborative approach to reduce the level of accidents and fatalities on farms in Ireland.