Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider establishing a specific farmer's mental health strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38175/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing.

While primary responsibility for mental health lies with the Department of Health including the establishment of a farmers’ mental health strategy, I ensured that dedicated funding of €2.5m was allocated in Budget 2024 for a range of initiatives

This includes supports to promote increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers.

Along with the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health, My Department is co-funding a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme called ‘On Feirm Ground 2’. This expanded programme is providing training for agricultural advisors, vets, Department staff, members of farming organisations and other agricultural professionals and service providers, to signpost farmers to supports in relation to health and wellbeing. Also in partnership with these departments my Department, hosted the 'Cultivating Mental Wellbeing in Rural Ireland' conference in November 2023.

Earlier this month, my colleague, Minister of State Martin Heydon T.D. announced the award of €850,000 in funding under the Open Call for 20 farm safety, health and wellbeing projects. The successful projects under this pilot initiative will be of significant benefit to farmers, their families and rural communities. Over half of these projects focus on farmers’ mental health and wellbeing.

I have provided support for further research into farmer mental health. The DCU led FarmHealth Research Project is examining farmers mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour to inform the development of an educational mental health intervention for farmers.

In December 2023, Minister of State Heydon and I announced funding of over €700,000 for the UCD-led “Farming Minds: Developing evidence-based interventions to enhance farmer mental health”. It is one of a number of research projects on farm safety, health and wellbeing which DAFM funds.

Last year, my Department funded eight farm safety European Innovation Partnerships (EIP’s) projects, of which four focused on mental health in the farming community.

The Department distributed the HSA’s Farm Safety Partnership booklet on “Farmers’ Health and Wellbeing - A Guide to Staying Healthy While Farming” in BISS 2023 packs to all farmers. The booklet includes a section on coping with stress and minding your mental health.

As I mentioned at the outset, farm safety, health and wellbeing is a priority for me and my colleague, Minister of State Martin Heydon, as we fully recognise the unique set of pressures farmers are experiencing. This Government will continue to invest in supporting the health and wellbeing of farmers and the rural communities in which they live.