'There are an unacceptably high level of fatalities on farms' - Minister Heydon
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon believes farm fatalities in Ireland are “unacceptably high”.
However the minister said his department is taking action to address the issue.
In response to questions raised by the Labour TD Robert O'Donoghue outlined the initiatives which are currently underway to tackle the problem.
These include €1.6 million in funding for 36 farm safety, health and well-being projects in 2025; and dedicated funding of €3 million for farm safety, health, and well-being initiatives in Budget 2026.
Deputy O’Donoghue had highlighted in the Dáil last week recent fatal farm incidents involving Donal O'Connor, who was in his 90s, in Co. Limerick and T.J. Sweeney, who was in his 30s, in Clare.
According to the Labour TD latest provisional figures from the Health and Safety Authority underline the extent of the issue in Ireland.
He said that farm incidents represent 40% of all workplace fatalities, "despite farmers being only 4% of the workforce".
"What actions is the department taking to improve farm safety and prevent further loss of life," Deputy O’Donoghue asked.
Minister Heydon
In response Minister Heydon said that the HSA as a statutory body, has work to do.
"There are an unacceptably high level of fatalities on farms and, as the deputy quite rightly outlined, ours is the most dangerous workplace in all of Ireland - disproportionately so when you consider the size of the workforce in comparison with those in other industries.
“The 24 confirmed farm fatalities in 2025 were double the number for 2024.
"The Health and Safety Authority, which has primary responsibility for health and safety on farms, is investigating the death of an elderly farmer in a farm incident earlier this month. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of this elderly farmer and the many other families dealing with the loss of a loved one in a farming incident," the minister added.
Minister Heydon said that “farm safety, health and well-being are an absolute priority for the government”.
He added: “There is a commitment in the programme for government to continue to prioritise improvements in farm safety, health and well-being.
“My department supports the efforts of the Health and Safety Authority and the Farm Safety Partnership to improve health and safety on Irish farms. Last year, I allocated €1.6 million in funding for 36 farm safety, health and well-being projects under an open call.
“I secured dedicated funding of €3 million for farm safety, health, and well-being initiatives in budget 2026 to build on existing, and to support new, initiatives in this area, which the Minister of State, Deputy [Michael] Healy-Rae, has responsibility for.”
Separately Deputy O'Donoghue also raised the question of farmers who work alone.
He said: “We need measures as we have an aging agricultural workforce and many farmers are isolated. We need better measures to protect them.
“Has the department already examined models that would allow lone farmers on farms to access safety-focused employment support? We will need to implement such schemes to protect farmers' health and safety and workers' rights.”
In reply to the deputy Minister Heydon said: “Generational renewal has a role to play here as well because, in general, the figures show a disproportionate number of old people are dying on our farms.
"When people asked me before why so many people in their 70s, and some in their 80s, are dying on our farms, it is because so many people are farming in their 70s and 80s.
“In any other profession, they would not still be working and in harm's way to that extent.”
He added: “As well as the farm safety budget, my department provides 60% grant aid for a range of farm safety-related investments under the farm safety capital investment scheme in TAMS [Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes].
"Further health and safety guidelines are included in all building specifications and all TAMS applicants are required to complete a half-day of farm safety training. That training is included as part of ACRES [Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme], the knowledge transfer programme and the SCEP [Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme], as well.”
Older farmers
In relation to older farmers, Minister Heydon added: “Three quarters of farm fatalities last year involved farmers over 60 years of age.
"The HSA's farm safety partnership has designed a leaflet entitled 'Farming in Older Age', and this will be distributed along with the 2026 BISS, basic income support for sustainability packs to over 125,000 farmers.”
“Ultimately, at the heart of all this, we have a poor attitude to risk on our farms. We take risks, we put ourselves in harm's way and we think near misses are a normal way of life."
He added: “No other industry finds that acceptable, and until we change that attitude to risk, we are going to continue to have an unacceptably high level.
"There is no level that is acceptable because one death is one too many and where are now right now has to change.”
