Farm Family Council Report September 2020

Activity since last National Council

The National Public Health Emergency Team and Health Protection Surveillance Centre provided the following report on the 1^stSeptember 2020:

• A total of 1,777 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.
• A total of 29,025 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, 217 new cases were confirmed on the 1^st September 2020.
• The COVID-19 Dashboard provides the most up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
• The following is an update on the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

	No. of people in receipt PUP(25thAugust)	No. of people in receipt of PUP (1stSeptember)
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Mining & Quarrying	3,200	3,100

The number of people that closed PUP is as follows:

	No. that closed PUP(25th August)	No. that closed PUP(1st September)
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, Mining & Quarrying	100	100

A farmer must close their claim for the PUP payment on the actual date that they start to trade or go back to work. To stop payment you can either by contacting DEASP Income Support Helpline for COVID-19 on 1890 800 024 or online by clicking here.

• Due to a rise in cases of COVID-19, new restrictions were announced on 18^th August 2020 and will be in place until 13^thSeptember 2020, these include:
  • Social visits to homes, both indoors and outdoors, should be limited to a maximum of 6 visitors from no more than 3 households
  • Other indoor gatherings and events are now limited to 6 people from no more than 3 households
  • Outdoor gatherings and events are limited to 15 people
• The following updates relate to Health and Safety:
  • There have been 16 farm fatalities officially recorded by HSA to date. To keep up to date on farm fatalities click here.
    • There was a farmer fatality in a road traffic accident on Sunday 30th August, this will not be recorded as an on-farm accident.
  • A resilience workshop supported by Farm Business Skillnet has been organised for September for IFA Officers, with the intention of offering the workshop to the wider IFA membership in the Autumn. The resilience training will be provided by Richard Burke, Resilience Matters, for more information on the workshop see the attached information note. A media campaign will be developed to promote the workshop and increase understanding of the importance of resilience among farmers.
  • IFA has written to Martin Heydon, Minister of State for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development seeking a meeting on farm safety.
  • IFA has written to Mary Butler, Minister of State Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People to seek a meeting on mental health in rural areas.

• IFA has sought a meeting with Mary Butler, Minister of State Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People to progress the amendment to the Nursing Home Support Scheme – Fair Deal.
• Press release issued reiterating the need for be greater transparency in the cost of nursing home fees, but that this must not impact the Government’s commitment to introducing a three-year cap on productive farm assets, as a matter of urgency.
• Presentation was given to the National Safeguarding Advisory Committee (NSAC) on 20th July on Vulnerability in Rural Ireland. The presentation highlighted the difference in vulnerability between rural v’s urban areas for older people, younger people, women and people with disabilities.
• The Irish Heart Foundation has launched a new campaign for September, Escape Your Chair The campaign highlights the risk factor for heart disease and stroke from sitting for long periods of time.
• A management committee meeting was held on the 30^th July to discuss the proposed diversity rule changes, farm safety, Fair Deal and IFA budget 2021 submission.

Upcoming issues

• Execute the roll out the Resilience workshop for IFA officers and the wider IFA membership during Autumn 2020.
• Progress the amendment to the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act to introduce three-year cap on productive assets.

Chair	Caroline Farrell
Executives	Farm Family – Geraldine O’Sullivan Farm Safety – William Shortall