asked the Taoiseach whether any statistics are available to demonstrate the number of accidents on farms in this country in each year and, if so, if he will give the relevant statistics for each of the last four years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accidents on Farms.
The only statistics relevant to the numbers of accidents on farms in the country are the data on the numbers of cases in agriculture in respect of which workmen's compensation was paid. These particulars are available from the records of insurance companies and relate only to insured employees. The number of such fatal cases in which compensation was paid was eight in 1953, 11 in 1954, five in 1955 and seven in 1956. The number of such non-fatal cases in which the first payment of compensation was made in the specified year was 2,131 in 1953, 1,978 in 1954, 1,941 in 1955 and 1,790 in 1956. Particulars for 1957 are not yet available and some returns are still outstanding from certain smaller insurance companies in respect of earlier years.