Minister Confirms Commitment To Farm Safety

Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill has reiterated her commitment to farm safety during a debate in the Assembly.

The Minister said she would work in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive and key stakeholders to raise awareness of farm safety amongst the farming community.

"I share the concerns about the on-going number of fatalities and injuries on farms and the need to improve standards of safety," the Minister said.

"I am fully committed to working in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive and key stakeholders through the Farm Safety Partnership to raise awareness of farm safety amongst the farming community.

"One death is one too many, and that is why I fully support my Department’s involvement in the Farm Safety Partnership. My Department has already taken a range of actions to improve awareness, change attitudes and help to improve safety on farms, and will continue to do so. I strongly encourage farmers and farm families to sign-up for the FarmSafe Awareness training that DARD is delivering across the north. Alongside these actions, the Farm Modernisation Programme has provided financial support to the value of some £4.2million for farm safety related equipment over the period of the current Rural Development Programme."

Outlining her plans for continued support the Minister said: “I am actively exploring the possibility of supporting larger capital investments in the next Rural Development Programme that contribute to farm safety and I have asked my officials to develop proposals for such a scheme in the next Programme.

"I am also planning to extend the current tranche of the Farm Modernisation Programme, subject to receiving the necessary funding. This is to support those farm businesses that applied but just missed out under the first allocation this year of Tranche 3 funding. Once I know that funding has been secured, I will be pleased to announce this extension to the Scheme."

(IT/MH)