A major new national initiative aimed at improving health, safety and wellbeing on farms has been launched by Minister Niall Collins, focusing on social farming, farm open days, and public events.

The official launch of the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Project 2026, 'Health and Safety for Social Farming', took place on the farm of Noel Murphy in Crecora, Co. Limerick.

Also present on the day were Leitrim Development Company, West Limerick Resources, and the Social Farming Ireland Network.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the recent open call, the project consists of 10 online health and safety training sessions from July to September.

There will be six on-farm training sessions this month (August) and September, taking place in:

Johnstown, Co. Kildare;
Rathcormac, Co. Cork;
Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford;
Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon;
Athenry, Co. Galway;
Mountnugent, Co. Cavan.

These followed by the launch of an innovative booklet titled: How to Have Safe Open Days and Events on Farms.

Minister Collins said: “Social Farming makes an important contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

"I am confident that this project will help social farmers protect the safety and health of everyone working, visiting, and living on social farms across the country.”

As there is currently no guidance in Ireland for health and safety for farm open days and events, the project aims to provide much needed resources for farmers, farming families, and communities across Ireland.

The booklet will provide comprehensive guidance for social farmers on managing health and safety to protect disabled people, people with limited mobility, and other vulnerable groups, such as people with varied language capabilities, visiting, living, or working on social farms.

Training

Every training session will cover farm health and safety risks, practical risk mitigation measures, and encourage open discussion on identifying and managing potential hazards associated with farm open days and events.

The training is facilitated by Jim Dockery of Towra Livestock Services.

It is informed by a steering committee, with members including a Health and Safety Authority (HSA) representative; a female farmer; a male farmer; an advocate for disabled people; an advocate for mental health; and a social farming participant.

Speaking about farming’s poor safety record and the need to change farmer’s attitudes to risk taking, Minister Collins said that every opportunity to promote risk awareness should be availed of so farmers are no longer willing to take chances with their health and safety.

"It is not acceptable for farmers to ignore safety in an effort to get work completed.

"While investing in facilities and equipment is important for making our farms safer, behavioural change is critical if farms are to become safe places to work and live," he said.

Minister Collins praised the work being done by local development companies in facilitating social farming placements through the National Network Project, funded by the department.

“Led by Leitrim Development Company and collaborating with West Limerick Resources, Waterford LEADER partnership and South-west Mayo Development Company, Social Farming Ireland is making a real difference to people’s physical and mental health and social connectivity," he said.

"Having visited a number of social farms and social farming events, I am really impressed by the work and opportunities provided.

National Social Farming Network manager, Brian Smyth said that a lot of people are now accessing social farms as participants, as visitors, on induction days, open days, peer learning and training events, farm walks and community events.

Smyth added: "The Social Farming Network is conscious that their health, safety and wellbeing are in the forefront of everyone involved and that this project will make sure that all steps are taken in this project to learn from this and to make the practices on farm safer for everyone."

Jim Dockery, Towra Livestock Services, highlighted the importance of delivering practical training to which farmers can relate.

He said: "The real learning is done in the practical walk around the farm and attending training with other farmers."

Dockery added that the minister’s attendance at the launch of the Social Farming Ireland’s project demonstrates the importance which the government place on supporting efforts to improve farm safety, health, and wellbeing.

Places are free for all, but booking is essential.

Farmers interested in general farm safety, and health and safety for open days and events are encouraged to register early.

Registration can be done on the Eventbrite website, or by calling (071) 9641772 for booking assistance.