Awards of €850,000 for farm safety, health and wellbeing projects will be announced by Minister of State with special responsibility for farm safety, Martin Heydon today (Tuesday, September 17).
The successful projects were selected following an open call for proposals under a new initiative launched by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) this year.
Minister Heydon will announce the successful projects at the National Ploughing Championships 2024 which kicked off in Ratheniska, Co. Laois, this morning.
Ahead of the announcement, Minister Heydon said: “The €850,000 in funding I am announcing today will support twenty projects across Ireland to increase awareness around farm safety, health and wellbeing.
“The call received an impressive number of applications highlighting the interest in driving positive change in this area. There was a range of approaches to supporting farmers, particularly around mental health and wellbeing.
“The unfortunate reality is farming has a poor record when it comes to safety in the workplace. Farmers also experience a disproportionate burden of health problems related to cardiovascular disease, cancers and mental health.
“The projects will provide support to address the challenges that farming families and those working with farmers face around farm safety, physical health and mental health and wellbeing.”
The projects are part of a series of initiatives being funded from the DAFM’s farm safety budget. Funding recipients include the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Irish Rural Link/AgriKids and Macra. A full list of the projects can be found on the DAFM website.
“Farmers have a strong sense of care when it comes to land and animals. I want farmers to also look after their own safety, health and wellbeing in the same way.
“These projects will engage with farmers on how to improve the safety, physical health and mental health and wellbeing of everyone living or working on farms.
“I am confident that they will make a real difference to the farming community and that this pilot programme will inform future initiatives in this critical area,” Minister Heydon said.