Farm Family Reports

Farm Family Council Report November 2024

Activity since last National Council

  • There have been 10 farm fatalities officially recorded by HSA to date. To keep up to date on farm fatalities click here.
  • Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon T.D., announced awards of €850,000 for farm safety, health and wellbeing projects
    • IFA received €210,871 funding from this initiative to carry out Free Farmer Health Checks nationwide. 
    • The health check included free blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, waist circumference and overall health and well-being check.
    • The health check was carried out by professional nurses from Croi (Heart and Stroke Charity Galway).
    • IFA launched a health information pack as part of the project. Please visit www.ifa.ie/healthcheck to view the health pack. 
    • The project ran from 16th of September to 8th of November, checking over 1000 farmers around 20 mart locations and Agri events. 
    • The project was hugely successful with a massive uptake and interest from farmers. 
    • The overall report and findings will be submitted to the Department of Agriculture on the 15th of November. 
  • IFA attended the RSA National Road Safety Conference.
  • IFA attended the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee meeting.
  • On Feirm Ground 2, run by Men’s Development Network and supported by DAFM, DoH and HSE, is a training programme that equips agricultural professionals and service providers with skills, knowledge, and competencies to engage farmers on their health and wellbeing and to signpost farmers to appropriate support services. 
    • The programme is suitable for agricultural professional or service providers who have interactions with farmers during the course of their work (on the yard, in the office and/or over the phone). 
  • Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler has recently amended the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to broaden the definition of who could act as the family successor, to improve the viability and sustainability of family farms and businesses.
    • From Monday 23rd September 2024 the following additional family members of either the person in care or their partner may make an application to become a ‘family successor’: Great nephews or great nieces, great-grandchildren, first cousins, a child, grandchild or great-grandchild of a first cousin.

Key Measures for Budget 2025:

  • From January 2024 there will be a €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State pensions and all social welfare payments. There will be proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate.
  • €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance
  • €200 cost of living lump sum payment for pensioners and people with a disability getting the Living Alone Increase
  • €400 cost of living lump sum payment to all families getting the Working Family Payment to be paid in November 2024
  • double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024 to support all families with children
  • €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting Carer’s Support Grant*
  • €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension*
  • €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024

Other Updates 

  • IFA attended the Women & Agriculture Conference in the Lyrath Estate, Co Kilkenny
  • IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs committee attended the Tullamore Show, The National Ploughing Championships, and numerous regional shows across the country.
  • IFA Farm Family Chair attended the Ulster Farmers Union Innovation Day in Co. Down.
  • IFA Farm Family Chair attended West Clare Mental Health Association Farm Walk to highlight World Mental Health Day.  

Any EU/COPA Developments:

  • IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair, Teresa Roche attended COPA COGECA Women’s Committee meeting in Brussels. 

IFA Farm Family Committee would like to thank everyone for their help and support over the last few weeks carrying out the Free Farmer Health Checks. Thank you for giving up your time to help out at your local mart location. 

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