Bernard Durkan
Question:591. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which farm safety continues to be a major issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35535/23]
View answerThursday, 13 July 2023
Questions (591)
Written answers
Farm safety is a major issue as farming continues to be the most dangerous occupation in terms of fatalities in the workplace. There has been an average of 19 fatal incidents per year on Irish farms over the last decade. Unfortunately, this year to date, there have been seven confirmed fatalities on farms. All of these fatalities are tragic losses to farm families, the community and the sector.
Fatal incidents on farms account for over 40% of all workplace fatal incidents. Data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey also reveals that there are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms.
This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing and my Department is implementing a series of initiatives using dedicated funding of €2.5m secured in Budget 2023. These initiatives promote farm safety practices and risk awareness and encourage behavioural change around farm safety from a young age, while also supporting those who have been impacted by fatal and non-fatal incidents.
My colleague, Minister Heydon recently launched the €1.5m National Farm Safety Measure 2023, which incentivises the purchase and use of quad bike helmets and PTO shaft covers. Other recent measures include the investment in agricultural machinery simulators and equine simulators for use in the agricultural colleges, the Acceleration of Wear and Tear Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment, farm safety training and joint promotional farm safety campaigns with the Health and Safety Authority.
I also launched the TAMS3 Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme last month with a higher grant rate of 60% to support farmers to invest in more physical infrastructure on their farms to make them safer. The Scheme includes new investments which were not previously grant aided such as livestock monitoring cameras, horse loading bays, silage bale slicer with plastic remover.
My Department will continue to engage with all stakeholders to improve farm safety, health and wellbeing on our farms with an ambition of effecting change and supporting farmers and their families on this important issue.