Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
665. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding provided by his Department directly or via bodies under his aegis for Farm Safety Week for each of the years 2015 to 2019; in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19185/20]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has primary responsibility for Health and Safety on Farms, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is fully supportive of their work and assists in the promotion of safe farming practices.
It has not been the role of the Department, or bodies under the aegis of this Department, to provide funding for the 5 nation farm safety week that is run by the IFA in Ireland. My Department has supported the farm safety week each year through media engagement. The farm safety week is an on-line farm safety awareness week.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is an active member of the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee and is in regular contact with the Health and Safety Authority. This committee consist of members from a wide range of bodies within agriculture and looks at how to promote and develop farm safety. DAFM, in conjunction with the HSA, is focused on changing farmer behaviour in relation to Health and Safety on farms. The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has incorporated mandatory farm safety training as a condition of TAM II grant scheme payments.
