I thank Deputy McCarthy. Farm safety, health and well-being is a priority for this Government. The Department is implementing a range of initiatives this year on farm safety, utilising dedicated funding of €2.5 million secured in budget 2025. I was pleased to secure an increase in this dedicated funding for farm safety, health and well-being to €3 million in budget 2026. In relation to 2025 funding, I have approved funding for 40 projects following an open call for farm safety, health and well-being projects earlier this year. More recently, we announced contracts for the delivery of children’s and young person’s farm safety awareness initiatives. A number of key schemes under the CAP strategic plan also ensure a focus on farm safety. The TAMS 3 farm safety capital investment scheme continues to provide grant aid for a wide range of farm safety related investments. Health and safety guidelines are included in all building specifications for the construction of agricultural buildings and structures. All TAMS applicants are required to complete a half-day of farm safety training. Farmer health and safety training is also included in other Department schemes, such as the suckler carbon efficiency programme, the ACRES training scheme and the knowledge transfer programme. The accelerated capital allowances scheme was expanded in budget 2025 to cover a broader range of farm safety investments in addition to the existing range of eligible farm safety equipment and adaptive equipment for farmers with disabilities. The additional farm safety investments are eligible for both TAMS and the accelerated capital allowances. This year, my Department partnered with the Health and Safety Authority to deliver targeted media campaigns focusing on farm safety risks due to livestock and farmer fatigue. In addition, the HSA's guidance on managing fatigue with farm work was included in the 2025 BISS packs distributed to over 125,000 farmers. The increased funding in 2026 will enable me to continue to deliver initiatives to support the safety, health and well-being of farmers, and everyone working and living on farms.
Sentiment score: 0.54
As I said at the beginning, this Government considers farm safety of the utmost importance. I highlight that farm safety continues to be one of the most critical issues that need to be addressed on farms today. Statistics show that over the past decade, farm incidences account for almost 40% of all workplace fatalities, while accounting for only 6.1% of the working population. In addition, there are approximately 4,500 non-fatal incidents each year on Irish farms, some of which result in life-changing injuries. Very sadly, 16 farm fatalities have been confirmed this year. There has also been one in the marine and aquaculture sector. We are fighting a battle. The Deputy is right to raise the issue. Everyone, on all sides of the House, wants our farms to become what building sites became. We must remember that at one time, building sites were not safe places to work but that changed thanks to the work of the HSA and stricter regulations. We all might have given out about that at times when we were adapting, but we grew into it. Our building sites have become far safer places. We want to do the same for our farmyards, farm machinery and farms in general. If we can model our farms on the way building sites changed, we will reduce the deaths and the non-fatal accidents.
Sentiment score: -0.02
I confirm that, as I said, there will be an increase in funding for safety this year to €3 million. I have been visiting schools. An agri-aware safety programme is running in our schools. It is excellent. This great work was started by our senior Minister, Deputy Heydon. He took it upon himself to focus on safety for young people, in particular. In the programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has set out its commitment to continuing to prioritise improvements in farm safety, health and well-being through strengthened supports. It places a specific focus on farmers' mental health and well-being, recognising the unique challenges faced by the sector. It also promotes positive mental health and well-being across the farming sector. From the Taoiseach to the Tánaiste, our senior Minister and everyone else in the House, including the Opposition Deputies, every one of us wants to improve farm safety. If we all work together, we will, I hope, be able to reduce the number of deaths.
Sentiment score: 0.51
Forests have an important role to play in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing greenhouse gases. This can be achieved through the expansion of our forests and the increased use of timber products. In 2020 we planted 2,234 ha, followed by 2,016 ha in 2021, 2,073 ha in 2022, 1,651 ha in 2023 and 1,573 ha in 2024, and so far this year we have planted 2,297 ha. I have personally contacted a large number of those landowners who have valid licence approvals and have not as yet planted, encouraging them to take that next step. I am confident that we will reach nearly 3,000 ha by year-end. I am sure the Deputy will praise me highly when I reach that target and, instead of shouting at me, he will be my biggest advocate and backer to say that I achieved such a thing.
Sentiment score: 0.61
My Department will therefore have delivered significant growth in 2025 and will continue to build on this success. In 2025 we launched a communications plan promoting the options available to farmers and other landowners through advertising on radio and in the national press, the targeting of information through social media channels and text messages and direct engagement with farmers and landowners through local and national events such as the National Ploughing Championships. We also fund stakeholder organisations, through promotion projects and training, to support the development of forestry sector networks. In 2025 we launched the planting on public lands initiative and are actively engaging with public bodies with land to encourage them to plant. That is an initiative that was not taken before. In addition to this proactive engagement, we provide extremely generous grants and premiums for 20 years for farmers and 15 years for non-farmers across a wide range of schemes, positioning forestry as an ideal complementary income stream for any farmer or landowner, with options available to suit all farming types. I am committed to continuing to promote this valuable land use option for farmers and other landowners in every way that I can, and to continue to grow the forestry sector into 2026 and beyond. I hope I will have the Deputy's support in doing so.
Sentiment score: 0.67
Will the Deputy not acknowledge it is double the figure from last year?
Sentiment score: 0.00
Has the Deputy anything positive to say?
Sentiment score: 0.56
Thank you.
Sentiment score: 0.36
The Deputy will be glad to know I do not need to be told to be ambitious by anybody on any side of any House.
Sentiment score: 0.73