Funding boost for farmer health and safety projects

CARLOW County Council has successfully received €10,000 to support a farming resilience innovative. The funding was announced last week by minister Martin Heydon minister of state at the department of agriculture, food and the marine with special responsibility for farm safety, as part of a €850,000 package for farm safety, health and wellbeing projects.

The successful projects were selected following an open call for proposals under a new initiative launched by the department. “The €850,000 in funding I am announcing  will support twenty projects across Ireland to increase awareness around farm safety, health and wellbeing. The call received an impressive number of applications highlighting the interest in driving positive change in this area. There was a range of approaches to supporting farmers, particularly around mental health and wellbeing,”  said minister Heydon. Other success applicants include IFA, Agri Aware and Embrace FARM. “The unfortunate reality is farming has a poor record when it comes safety in the workplace. Farmers also experience a disproportionate burden of health problems related to cardiovascular disease, cancers and mental health. The projects will provide support to address the challenges that farming families and those working with farmers face around farm safety, physical health and mental health and wellbeing,” he said.