Minister Heydon announces new initiative to promote farm safety awareness among children and young people
- Foilsithe: 29 Bealtaine 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 29 Bealtaine 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, today awarded a five-year contract to Irish Rural Link’s Agrikids to promote greater awareness of farm safety among children and young people at public events and shows nationwide.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister Heydon said:
“I am delighted to announce funding for this new initiative with Agrikids who have been working with schools and communities for over ten years to educate and empower our children and families around farm safety. This project is part of a series of education initiatives in 2026 which aim to teach children and young people about farm safety. I am confident that this initiative will help young people recognise the dangers on farms and educate them about the risks. This will not only help protect children throughout their childhood but importantly instil a culture of farm safety awareness in the next generation of farmers.”
The AgriKids Farm Safe Roadshow will deliver farm safety themed activities and exhibits at agri-shows and public events, including a workshop zone, virtual reality area, 3D farm and an activity table where children will be challenged to identify farm safety risks.
Alma Jordan of Agrikids commented:
“We are delighted to receive this commitment of funding to help us support the large number of shows and community groups who reach out to us. Our country is an agricultural one, our farms are largely family farms, so it makes sense that we include our children in this discussion and empower them with knowledge so that they may become more aware and more informed. From partaking in AgriKids events and using the resources, we have seen how quickly children pick up the message and in turn share this learning with their parents and adults.”
Briain Smyth, CEO, Irish Rural Link said:
“Bringing AgriKids to the summer agricultural shows means meeting farming families on their own ground, in the company of their neighbours. Alma and her team have built something that genuinely engages, educates and empowers children to become farm safety ambassadors at home, and that is precisely the kind of grassroots work Irish Rural Link exists to champion."
The Department is providing funding of €22,250 for this project in 2026 as part of its dedicated farm safety budget.
For further information visit www.gov.ie/farmsafety.
Notes
The Department funding will enable Irish Rural Link’s AgriKids to promote children’s and young person's farm safety awareness at various shows and events this year as set out below.
|
Date |
Event |
County |
|
30 May |
Belgooly Show |
Cork |
|
14 June |
Louth Show |
Louth |
|
2 July |
Clonmel Show |
Tipperary |
|
11 July |
Barryroe Show |
Cork |
|
15-19 July |
Sneem Festival |
Kerry |
|
18 July |
Sligo County Agri Show |
Sligo |
|
1 August |
Castlegregory Agricultural Show |
Kerry |
|
2 August |
Carrigaline Vintage |
Cork |
|
23 Aug |
Moate Agricultural Show |
Westmeath |
|
5 Sept |
Beltra Show |
Sligo |
|
6 Sept |
Scariff Show |
Clare |
|
13 Sept |
Clonaslee Show |
Laois |
This initiative is part of a series of initiatives to educate children and young people about farm safety in 2026. Other such initiatives include:
- Funding of €81,665 to Irish Rural Link’s AgriKids for the delivery of the Farm Safety Ambassador Programme to promote farm safety awareness among primary school pupils.
- Grant aid to 11 projects that will deliver tractor driving safety awareness training to children aged 14 years and older as part of the recent open call for farm safety, health and wellbeing projects.
