Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed funding of more than €28,000 for farm safety and wellbeing initiatives at Mountbellew Agricultural College under a new €1.18 million national funding package.
Three separate projects at Mountbellew Agricultural College have been allocated funding under the 2026 Farm Safety, Health and Wellbeing Open Call.
The funding includes €18,000 for Tractor Driving Safety Awareness Training for young people aged 14 and over, €7,300 for an Improving Farm Safety initiative, and €3,000 for a programme aimed at Supporting Older Farmers, bringing the total allocation for the college to €28,300.
Minister Canney said the investment is important for rural communities.
“Farming is one of the most demanding and high-risk occupations in the country, so investment like this is extremely important.
“Mountbellew Agricultural College has played a hugely important role in agricultural education and it is very welcome to see over €28,000 being invested locally in projects that will help improve safety awareness and support farmers at different stages of life.”
The wider national funding package will support projects focused on farmer physical and mental health, livestock handling, machinery safety, health checks, chainsaw training and initiatives aimed at reducing accidents and improving wellbeing across the farming community.
A total of 46 projects nationwide have been approved for funding under the Department of Agriculture’s dedicated farm safety budget.
