Farm accidents involving children remain one of rural Ireland’s most preventable tragedies, and a new initiative aims to tackle that risk early. A fresh tender published through gov.ie signals a stronger push to build farm safety awareness among teenagers before dangerous habits take hold.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced a competitive procurement process for a nationwide schools programme focused on children and young people. The plan is to deliver practical farm safety education to second-level students over the next five years, using classroom sessions, webinars and supervised farm visits. The initiative reflects a wider government effort to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on farms, especially among younger age groups.
Why gov.ie’s new farm safety schools plan matters
The latest announcement on gov.ie comes against a sobering backdrop. Over the last decade, eight people under 18 lost their lives in incidents on Irish farms, with all cases involving farm vehicles. While that figure is significantly lower than historic levels, it still underlines the ongoing need for prevention, education and a culture shift across farming communities.
The proposed programme will support teachers in explaining common hazards linked to agricultural work, including:
- moving vehicles and machinery
- blind spots around tractors and loaders
- livestock handling risks
- yard safety and unsafe play areas
- long-term awareness of farm health and wellbeing
By reaching students in school settings, the Department hopes to influence behaviour not only among young people, but also within farming households more broadly.
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How the gov.ie tender will work
According to details published on gov.ie, the Department has allocated €100,000 from its dedicated 2026 farm safety budget for the first year of the programme. The contract may then be extended for up to four additional years, giving the successful provider an opportunity to develop a longer-term national impact.
Key tender details include:
- It is a competitive public procurement process.
- The initiative must focus on second-level schools across Ireland.
- Delivery is expected by November 2026.
- The tender appears on the eTenders platform under reference 8433993.
- The closing date is 2pm on 20 July 2026.
This approach also aligns with how public bodies manage education and safety funding through structured procurement, an area often associated with organisations such as the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), while broader policy visibility is often amplified through departments and agencies listed on gov.ie.
Part of a broader rural safety strategy
This is not a standalone action. The Department has already supported several related programmes, including the Farm Safety Ambassador Programme delivered by Irish Rural Link and AgriKids, as well as awareness work at agricultural shows and events. Separate funding has also backed tractor driving safety training for more than 1,600 young people aged 14 and over.
Together, these measures show how rural safety policy increasingly overlaps with Education, Health, Social Protection and community engagement. While agencies like the Health Service Executive (HSE), Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and An Garda SÃochána may each play different roles in public safety and enforcement, farm accident prevention starts with awareness long before an emergency occurs.
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What success could look like
If well delivered, the programme could help create a generation of young people who view farm safety as routine rather than optional. That matters in a country where family farms often double as homes, workplaces and play spaces. Early education can influence simple but life-saving decisions, from where children stand in a yard to how vehicles are operated around others.
It also reinforces the broader role of gov.ie as a central source for public information, tenders and policy announcements that affect everyday life in rural Ireland.
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Conclusion
The new school-based safety tender published via gov.ie is a practical step toward reducing serious farm incidents among children and teenagers. With funding in place, a clear deadline set and a focus on second-level education, the initiative could become an important part of Ireland’s long-term farm safety culture. The key takeaway is simple: awareness taught early can save lives later, and this latest gov.ie move is designed to do exactly that.
