Farm Family Council Report May 2024

1. Activity since last National Council  

• There have been 2 farm fatalities officially recorded by HSA to date. To keep up to date on farm fatalities click here. 
• Agri Aware with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is delighted to announce its new farm safety initiative for primary schools called Safe Farm Futures. 

• This programme is available to primary schools across the country and aims to educate and raise awareness of the importance of keeping safe on farms. 
• IFA encourages all primary schools to get behind the initiative and register online at www.agriaware.ie.  

• IFA Farm Family attended the Farm Safety Partnership Committee meeting on Thursday 15^th February. 
• IFA Farm Family attended a cross border Farm Safety Meeting (North & South) on Friday 16^th February to discuss farm safety correlations between north and south statistics.  
• IFA met with Farm Safety Foundation to discuss farm safety week which takes place 22^nd to 26^th of July.  
• IFA Farm Family attended Citizens Roundtable Event – Future of Cardiovascular Health in Ireland in Co Galway. 
• IFA encouraged farmers to be mindful of their mental health and well-being during a stressful farming period. 

• Farmers Helpline: FBD supports farmers and have a helpline available to FBD Farm Multi-Peril Policyholders. Contact 1800 670 407 

• 24hours a day/7days a week 
• Available for any issues and not restricted to farming issues. 

• IFA is working with FBD to release a social media campaign on advertising the support helpline for farmers. 
• On Feirm Ground – Supporting Agricultural Professionals and service providers to engage with farmers on their health and wellbeing. Register for training online at www.engagetraining.ie. Further dates will be released for June.  

• 9^th May – Portlaoise Enterprise Centre 
• 21^st May – Ballyhase College Cavan 
• 22^nd May – Teagasc Athenry Research Centre, Galway 
• 28^th May – Salesian Agri College, Limerick  

• IFA attended EU CAP Network Women-led innovations in agriculture and rural areas in Poland.  

• The overall aim of the workshop was to empower women in farming and rural areas by exchanging knowledge, identifying successful initiatives and projects led by female innovators, and networking. 

• IFA attended Her-Self Policy Co Design Workshop to discuss the importance of women in agriculture and discuss the future of women in agriculture. 
• IFA attended 2024 Annual Suck Valley Training Conference and gave a presentation on the impacts of isolation and loneliness in farming. 
• IFA attended CopaCogeca Access to Finance Workshop in Brussels to discuss easier access to finance for women farmers.  

• PIA Nieminen – European Investment Bank Policy Advisor was in attendance. 

• Farm Family & Social Affairs Committee supported the decision made by the National Officers Committee (NOC) to not join the new Women in Agriculture Stakeholder Co-operative Structure.  

• IFA has been in contact with the RSA on the issue of type W Licences. 

• Following receipt of information from the EU, at the turn of the year, the RSA clarified that Category W licences in Ireland should only be used for agricultural or forestry work. Anyone driving for commercial reasons, e.g. carrying stone/blocks etc for construction work, must have a Category CE or C1E and also undertake CPC training to drive professionally. 
• The RSA has now removed this clarification in anticipation of the introduction of the EU’s Fourth Driving Licence Directive in September that will deal with the matter. 
• Once the directive has been published, the RSA and the Department of Transport will consult with stakeholders in advance of the introduction of domestic regulations. 

• IFA met with Minister Mary Butler to discuss the proposed Statutory Home Care Scheme. The Minister clarified that: 

• The scheme is currently going through regulations which will go to cabinet in the next few weeks.  
• Minister Butler confirmed that the changes to the Nursing Home Support Scheme for family relatives under the 3-year cap has been passed through cabinet and will come into effect in the coming weeks. This new change will allow more family members to be considered as a ‘family successor’ to a family farm or business assets including cousins and great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-grandchildren. 

• IFA made a submission to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on the introduction of Climate Action and Sustainable Development leaving certificate subject. 
• SUSI applications for the student grant scheme for the 2023/24 academic year is now open.  

The following changes introduced in Budget 2023, will take effect in September.  

They include reductions: 

• in the contribution fee of €1,500 for families earning €55,240 to €62,000 
• of €500 in the contribution fee for eligible households earning between €62,000 and €100,000. 

• IFA made a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development to discuss the ‘impact of means testing on Farm Assist and other social welfare schemes’.  
• IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs committee met on Wednesday 1^st of May in the Farm Centre. FBD Stewart Gavin Head of Product and Brendan Little ARAG Service Provider attended the meeting. 

2. Any EU/COPA developments 

• IFA will attend Copa Cogeca Women’s Committee meeting in Brussels on 30^th May. 
• IFA joined a meeting online organised by ATVEA (All-Terrain Vehicle Industry European Association) to discuss quad bike training courses in Ireland.  

3. Upcoming issues 

• IFA will work with Farm Safety Foundation to promote farm safety week 22^nd – 26^th of July.  
• IFA have been invited to attend Farm Safety Foundation 10^th Anniversary Conference on 21^st of May in Warwickshire, UK. 
• IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs next committee meeting is 4^th September 2024