Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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225. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which farm safety continues to be a major issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25519/23]

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

Farm safety is a major issue and continues to be the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities in the workplace, with children and the elderly particularly vulnerable. There has been an average of 19 fatal incidents per year on Irish farms over the last ten years. There were 13 farm fatalities in 2022, but unfortunately this year to date, there have been three confirmed fatalities on farms. All of these fatalities are tragic losses to farm families, the community and the sector.

Fatal incidents on farms account for over 40% of all workplace fatal incidents. Data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) also reveals that there are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms.

This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. My Ministerial colleague, Martin Heydon TD, has specific responsibility for Farm Safety as part of his portfolio.

My Department is implementing a series of farm safety, health and wellbeing initiatives in 2023 through dedicated funding of €2.5m. These initiatives promote farm safety practices and risk awareness and encourage behavioural change around farm safety from a young age, while also supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.

The measures include the Acceleration of Wear and Tear Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment, a joint promotional farm safety campaigns with the Health and Safety Authority and the ‘On Feirm Ground’ programme. Further proposals are in the process of being finalised and will be announced in due course.

My Department continues to engage with all stakeholders to improve farm safety, health and wellbeing on our farms. The number of deaths and injuries on Irish farms is too high and we need to continue to take steps to effect behavioural change and ensure that incident levels are reduced.