€2.5m for farmer safety, health, and wellbeing projects
The open call aims to encourage stakeholders to deliver projects that not only promote farm safety, but also the importance of physical and mental health among farmers. File picture
The Department of Agriculture is allotting €2.5m for projects supporting farm safety and farmer wellbeing.
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon and minister of state for Farm Safety Michael Healy-Rae launched the open call on April 17.
“Farming is the most dangerous occupation with regard to fatalities in the workplace. It can also be a stressful occupation.
"Recognising the unique challenges that farmers face, this open call will support projects that support best practice that minimises the risk to the safety of our farmers and promote positive physical and mental health and wellbeing across the farming sector,” Mr Healy-Rae said.
Projects funded by the department will cover one or more of the following themes: farm safety; farmers’ physical health, mental health and wellbeing; farmers’ physical and mental health checks; tractor driving awareness training for children 14 years of age and older; chainsaw training for farmers; farm safety, health and wellbeing events.
The closing date for applications is May 19.
