The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will meet with representatives from the HSA to discuss proposals to cut back on the number of farm safety inspections.

Despite the number of farm deaths in 2014 being the highest in over 20 years with 30 fatal accidents, the HSA is cutting farm inspections this year to 2,300. A total of 2,644 inspections took place in 2014, compared to 2,748 in 2013 and 3,136 in 2012.

Committee Chairman Andrew Doyle TD said it is vital to minimise risks on farms.

“Farms are not only places of work but are also homes to hundreds of thousands of families across Ireland," he said. "With 30 fatalities, last year was the worst year for farm deaths since 1991 and the first month of 2015 has already seen a number of tragic deaths around the country."

He added that, according to Teagasc, over 2,000 injuries occur on Irish farms every year, making our farms up to twice as hazardous as those of other European countries.

“Committee members will wish to press the HSA representatives on the rationale for the change in approach," Deputy Doyle said.

This meeting takes place at 10am tomorrow.