Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon T.D., has welcomed Budget 2022, and its significant allocation to the area of farm safety.
For the first time, the Department of Agriculture will have a dedicated budget for farm safety of €2m.
About Budget 2022 and farm safety, Minister Heydon stated, “I am delighted to secure a dedicated fund for farm safety. This is the first time such a dedicated budget has been put in place. Farm safety is an important issue for Government and to highlight the priority that Government has given farm safety, I was the first Minister appointed with special responsibility for farm safety as part of my portfolio.”
“This new funding will play a significant role in my drive to achieve a cultural change around safety on our farms. They are working environments and we must continue to work together to make them safer. Reductions in the rate of fatal and serious incidents on farms will happen only by changing behaviours, increasing awareness, training, and investment in key farm safety and farmer mental health and wellbeing measures.”
The €2m allocation is addition to the continued funding for farm safety equipment under TAMS, a recently launched Accelerated Capital Allowances for Farm Safety Equipment Scheme, and a range of locally led schemes focused on farm health, safety, and wellbeing projects.
Minister Heydon also welcomed strong support for his other areas of responsibility, new market development and research and innovation.
Teagasc, the state agency providing research, advisory and education in agriculture, horticulture, food and rural development in Ireland will receive €152.6m in 2022.
Minister said, “it is important that all our policy decisions are guided by robust science. As well as supporting Teagasc, I oversee a significant budget for research projects. Investment in research will allow us to assist farmers, future proof our industry, and develop key solutions to meeting the ambitions of the agri-food sector.”
“Bord Bia has a significant allocation of €53m to continue their important work. This funding will enable Bord Bia to continue to invest in innovative digital approaches to developing new markets, defending, and growing our food and drink exports in existing markets in the UK and Europe and building our reputation in Third Countries in line with our market access programme.”
“It will also support a welcome return to in-person presence at marketing and promotion events, as international travel opens up, keeping Ireland and its quality, sustainable, safe food offering, current, relevant and visible and in line with our Food Vision 2030 strategy.”
