David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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74. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the initiatives his Department is undertaking to improve farm safety and to promote better mental health and well-being amongst farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33534/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has and continues to undertake a wide range of initiatives to highlight the importance of and promotion of farm safety. My ministerial colleague, Martin Heydon, TD. has been assigned specific responsibilty for Farm Safety within my Department.

In relation to the promotion of better mental health, my Department is co-funding, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness package entitled ‘On Feirm Ground’ under the auspices of the ENGAGE National Men’s Health Training programme. This programme was launched on 19 October this year.

As part of budget 2021, I also announced the allocation of €1m for specific investment in Farm safety initiatives under an EIP model.

Through the Research Stimulus Fund my Department is funding a farm safety research project entitled: “BESAFE - Behaviours for Safer Farming: The health and safety of farmers is a significant challenge for the social sustainability of Irish agriculture”. Given the unique occupational characteristics of farming there is a need to tailor approaches that seek to improve safety. The aim of the BeSafe project is to develop and support the adoption of these approaches thereby effecting positive lasting change.

With the on-going level of fatal accidents involving farm machinery, my Department in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority and the Irish Farmers Journal have jointly developed an on-line Tractor Safety Awareness Training course which was launched in September of this year.

Beyond this significant investment has been made in both specific farm safety items under the TAMS II schemes, as well as investment in the construction of new buildings, and the mandatory requirement to have completed a minimum of a ½ days farm safety course on completing the Code of Practice within the last five years. Additionally, ‘Health and Safety’ guidelines are included in all ‘Building Specifications,’ drawn up by my Department for the construction of agricultural buildings and structures. The guidelines give advice on best practice and legislation.

My Department and the HSA are also jointly funding a media campaign for television in September of this year.