National farm safety measures for this year announced

Farmers who avail of the grant aid can have up to 60% of costs covered for purchasing a maximum of four PTO shaft covers

Farm safety minister Michael Healy-Rae; with Dr Stan Lalor, director of knowledge transfer, Teagasc; and Dr John McNamara, health and safety specialist, Teagasc, at the power take-off shaft safety campaign launch at a Teagasc dairy open day in Moorepark. Picture: O'Gorman Photography

The reopening of the National Farm Safety Measure has been announced by farm safety minister Michael Healy-Rae.

The National Farm Safety Measure 2025 provides grant aid covering 60% of the eligible cost of up to four power take off (PTO) shaft covers.

Announcing the measure, Mr Healy-Rae said: "Properly fitted and well-maintained PTO-shaft covers are essential when it comes to protecting everyone on farms from the risk of a serious or fatal injury involving PTO-powered machinery. I am reopening the National Farm Safety Measure to encourage farmers to replace PTO shaft covers that are defective or missing.” 

From 2015 to 2024, farm vehicles and machinery have accounted for almost half of all fatalities on farms. Entanglement in PTO shafts has resulted in numerous fatalities and life-changing injuries to Irish farmers and their workers.

The greatest investment that farmers can make regarding farm safety is time — time to identify the hazards on the farm and time to put corrective actions in place. 

"I am encouraging farmers to take out their Farm Safety Code of Practice risk assessment, use it to identify and review the hazards around the farm, such as inadequately protected PTO-shaft covers, and then put the necessary steps in place to minimise or eliminate the risks. When it comes to farm safety, complacency or inaction can be unforgiving,” Mr Healy-Rae added.

The Farm Safety Measure is being funded from the exchequer and will be open until November 7 on the agfood website.

Grant aid under the measure is at a rate of 60% subject to max eligible cost of €100 per PTO shaft cover for up to four PTO shaft covers. 

Farmers who previously applied for the grant under the National Farm Safety Measure in 2023 and 2024 are also eligible for this measure.