Ministers Heydon and Healy-Rae launch Open Call for Farmer Safety, Health and Wellbeing Projects
- Foilsithe: 4 Márta 2026
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 4 Márta 2026
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister of State for Forestry, Farm Safety and Horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae TD, have today launched an Open Call for Farmer Safety, Health and Wellbeing Projects.
Announcing the call, Minister Healy-Rae said:
“Building on the success of the Open Calls in 2024 and 2025, this initiative will support projects in 2026 to improve the safety, health and wellbeing of our farming community. Several new themes have been added to the Open Call this year including proposals to specifically support older farmers who are a more vulnerable group. Farmers over 60 years of age accounted for three quarters of all farm fatalities in 2025. Proposals are also being sought for training for working at height and hearing and sight checks, while enhanced health checks will include health behaviour change follow-ups to encourage farmers to make the necessary changes to improve and protect their health.”
The Open Call projects are being funded from the Department’s dedicated farm safety budget. Proposals are sought for projects that will address the following themes and sub-themes:
- Farm Safety
- Tractor Driving Awareness Training for Children 14 years of age and older
- Chainsaw Training for Farmers
- Working at Height Training for Farmers
- Farmers Physical Health
- Farmers Physical Health Checks
- Hearing and Sight Checks
- Farmers Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Mental Health Checks
- Supporting Older Farmers
All projects funded under the Open Call must be completed by 30 October 2026. Successful projects delivered in 2026 may be funded again in subsequent year(s), for a period or periods of up to twelve months, up to the end of 2029, subject to funding being available and approval by the Department.
Welcoming the open call, Minister Heydon said:
“Having secured €3 million in dedicated funding for this important area in Budget 2026, my Department will continue to prioritise the safety, health, and wellbeing of everyone involved in farming. This initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to addressing the disproportionate risks faced by the farming community and tackling farming’s poor safety record. I am committed to ensuring that, over the next four years, every farmer takes the necessary measures to address the safety risks on their farms, as well as protecting and improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing.”
Applications under the Open Call can be emailed to farmsafetycall@agriculture.gov.ie or sent by registered post to: Crop Policy, Evaluation and Certification Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Backweston Administration Building, Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
The deadline for submission of applications is 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
The Specification Document and Application Form are available at www.gov.ie/farmsafety.
Information Webinar
An information webinar on preparing open call applications will be held on Wednesday, 11 March 2026 at 10:00 am. Applicants who are considering submitting a proposal are advised to attend this important webinar. To Register for the webinar, please click here.