Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
799. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with other Government Departments in respect of the delivery of farm safety programmes and initiatives in schools at both primary and secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27248/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank Deputy Burke for asking this question on such an important topic.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has primary responsibility for Health and Safety on farms. My Department is fully supportive of their work and assists in the promotion of safe farming practices as well launching initiatives that promote farm safety, health and wellbeing.
Over the past 10 years, 22 children have died on Irish farms. In order to reduce the rate of fatal and serious accidents and to instil the message of farm safety into children from a young age, Agri Aware, AgriKids and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), supported and funded by my Department, teamed up to bring the Farm Safe Schools programme to Irish classrooms in spring 2022 for the second year running.
This collaborative, programme aims to engage, educate and empower Irish children to become farm safety ambassadors and in doing so help create a safer, brighter future on Irish farms by assisting teachers in educating their students about the potential dangers associated with farming and agriculture. This year over 452 primary schools and 19,500 pupils are taking part in the programme.
My Department also took an active role in the revision of the Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science Curriculum in 2019. An important element in the revision of this curriculum was the development of the course content on farm safety.
