Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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59. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new initiatives he plans on the farm safety front; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25319/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic.

Farmers are the backbone of our food production system, and it is incumbent on all of us in the sector to prioritise their safety and wellbeing.

We have made real progress in recent years on improving agriculture’s safety record. However, farming continues to be the most dangerous occupation in Ireland. Fatal incidents on farms account for just over two in five of all workplace fatal incidents and sadly, this year to date, there have been three fatalities on farms.

Additionally, data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey reveals that there are also approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms.

By assessing our farms for risk and driving down the number of non-fatal incidents, and near misses, we can reduce the number of fatal incidents.

As the first Minister with dedicated responsibility for farm safety, my colleague, Martin Heydon T.D. has prioritised improvements in farm safety, health, and wellbeing and is committed to reducing the number of fatal and non-fatal incidents on farms

My Department has put in place a dedicated resources and a fund of €2.5 million to drive a comprehensive approach to improve farm safety along with supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.

There continues to be a need to raise awareness among farmers, workers, and the general public on the importance of farm safety. My Department has partnered with the Health and Safety Authority to deliver a series of targeted campaigns focused on a range of high risk areas.

Improving farm safety requires a collective effort. That is why we have engaged with industry, farmer representative organisations, safety experts, and other Government agencies through the HSA’s Farm Safety Partnership to produce a number of important resources including a “Farmer Health and Wellbeing” booklet which was delivered directly to 122,000 farmers through the 2023 BISS packs.

Ensuring good farm safety habits early in life is another effective way to create a culture of safety first among the future generation of farmers. That is why I strongly supported the Farm Safe Schools Programme which worked with thousands of primary school children to equip them to lead the farm safety conversation around the kitchen table.

It is also why I worked with Teagasc to make a substantial investment in getting farm machinery simulators into all the agricultural colleges so students can practise tractor and machinery driving skills in a safe and controlled environment.

The other important area which I am prioritising this year is supporting farmers to invest in more physical infrastructure on their farms to make them safer. That is why I am delighted to have secured an increase in the grant rate for farm safety equipment in the next TAMS to 60% and the new Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme will be opening very shortly.

This will provide significant funding for farmers to take practical steps like installing a new handling facility for cattle or sheep, replacing old or broken slats, or improving the operation of their farmyards with new roller doors and better lighting.

I am in the process of exploring further ways in which we can support farmers to make how they work safer and these will be announced in due course.

These initiatives include capital support to make farms safer, support for education and awareness through promoting farm safety practices and risk awareness that encourage behavioural change while also supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.

Farming is a hugely rewarding profession but there can be challenges. We want to ensure that when a farmer heads out in the morning and puts on his or her wellies that they take off their own boots again in the evening.