Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

883. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to the introduction of a safe pass style system for all farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3421/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Farm safety is a critical issue and farming continues to be the most dangerous occupation with regard to fatalities in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has statutory responsibility for health and safety in the workplace, including safety requirements such as the ‘Safe Pass’ safety awareness programme. My Department is supportive of the HSA’s efforts to improve health and safety on farms.

Budget 2025 delivered dedicated funding of €2.5 million for farm safety, health and wellbeing. This funding will ensure the continuation of existing initiatives as well as the development of new initiatives that promote risk awareness and farm safety practices that deliver behavioural change by everyone working on farms, especially young people who are our future farmers.

Examples of such initiatives include a joint media campaign with the HSA in promoting farm safety and the ‘On Feirm Ground 2’ programme. Last year, my Department funded an Open Call for Farm Safety, Health and Wellbeing Projects which supported and promoted best practice to minimise the risks to the safety, health, and wellbeing of everyone on farms.

The TAMS3 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme provides grant aid for a wide range of farm safety related investments. The Accelerated Capital Allowances Scheme was expanded in Budget 2025 to cover a broader range of farm safety investments in addition to the existing range of eligible farm safety equipment and adaptive equipment for farmers with disabilities.

This Government will continue to prioritise improvements in farm safety, health and wellbeing and to ensure this work is prioritised, my colleague Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae T.D. has been assigned special responsibility for Farm Safety.