“I am delighted to announce the funding of these two projects which will promote children’s and young person’s safety awareness on farms. Building on the success of previous initiatives funded by my Department, I am confident that these two projects will help instil a lifelong culture of farm safety from a young age. We must all work together to ensure that every effort is made to protect children on farms.”

“These initiatives will help address children’s and young person’s safety on Irish farms by assisting teachers in educating their students about the potential dangers associated with farming and agriculture. Parents and grandparents also play an important role in influencing children’s attitudes to farm safety. I am urging them to support these projects and to become farm safety role models for our young people. It is by observing adults implementing best practice when it comes to farm safety, that our young people will also adopt a safety conscious approach to farming.”

“Farm safety is one of the most pressing challenges facing rural communities, and it is vital that we begin instilling awareness and safe practices at the earliest age. Through the AgriKids Farm Safety Ambassador Programme, we aim to empower children to become advocates for safety in their schools, homes, and communities, helping to shape a culture where safety on farms is second nature.”

“I am delighted that the FRS Training has been chosen by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to deliver a crucial message around farm safety to second level students across the country through our awareness programme. FRS Training will roll out both face-to-face and webinar-led farm safety awareness training sessions to two specific secondary level student groups; general secondary level students, and transition year and agricultural science students. The sessions cover all major dangers on farms and how to mitigate them, including livestock, tractors, machinery, slurry, loading bales, working at heights, chemicals, open tanks.”