James O'Connor
Question:565. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications that have been received to date for the farm safety scheme. [34843/23]
View answerThursday, 13 July 2023
Questions (565)
Written answers
The €1.5m National Farm Safety Measure 2023, funded from the National Exchequer, incentivises the purchase and use of quad bike helmets and PTO shaft covers which will help protect farmers and everyone involved in operating PTO-powered equipment and quad bikes on farms from serious and fatal injuries.
The Measure also increases awareness of the risks on farms due to unprotected or inadequately protected PTO shafts and the operation of quads without the appropriate PPE and training.
To date my Department has received almost 300 expressions of interest. The facility for submitting payment claims will be available shortly on AgFood and claims can be submitted up to 29th September 2023. I am urging farmers to avail of this measure and make their farms safer.
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 behaviour change and ensure that incident levels are reduced.