Farmers are invited to join a free webinar next week that will focus on a number of topics related to farm funding programmes and schemes available this year.

Hosted by Senator Aisling Dolan along with Minister of State Martin Heydon, the event will take place next Tuesday (January 26) at 7:00pm via Zoom.

It will focus on a number of topics, including farm safety and the Accelerated Capital Allowance; the extension of certain farm schemes for 2021; and Brexit. A key focus of the event will be on farm safety and will provide advice for the farming community.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Fine Gael senator said: “Minister Martin Heydon has launched two new programmes on farm safety and this webinar will provide essential information in relation to those.

“We are now in slurry season and activity has really ramped up on the farm in the past week with lambing, and farmers are also coping with young children studying from home and wanting to help Mam or Dad in the farmyards.

“This can increase a lot of risks with farm machinery when it comes to safety in such a busy time.”

Giving farmers an update on Brexit impact

Minister Heydon will also speak about the application deadline for the European Innovation Programme in farm safety on January 29. Ahead of the event, he said:

The level of safety incidents we are seeing on farms is a major concern, and I am working to put safety at the heart of everything we do on our farms.

“My current portfolio also includes responsibility for new market development. This involves working to deliver new opportunities for Irish agri-food exports particularly in this challenging time of Covid-19 and Brexit.

“Ireland’s proposed initial allocation under the new Brexit Adjustment Reserve is a real boost, with over €1 billion, or 25% of the first tranche of the fund.

“This shows just how significant the impact of Brexit will be for Ireland, particularly our agri-food sector. I look forward [to] giving an update to farmers with Senator Dolan at the webinar next week.”

Senator Dolan has invited anyone interested to find further details on: www.aislingdolan.org. The webinar can be joined via the Zoom website with the meeting ID: 813-1182-4751; or by phone by dialling: 01-536-9320 with the meeting ID.