Now that the prohibited period for cutting hedgerows has passed, I have started breasting back some overgrown hedges. There are some mature ash trees in the hedgerow and I feel their branches will soon be at risk of coming in contact with overhead electricity wires that pass through my land. Is it my responsibility to get them cut, or is it the ESB Networks responsibility? If I contact the ESB, will it end up costing me?

Any time you feel there may be a risk of contact with overhead electricity lines you should contact the ESB immediately on 1850 372 or 757 or 0212386555. Arthur Byrne, Public Safety Manager with ESB Networks says that under no circumstances should you attempt to cut down trees yourself. He explains that once contacted, an inspection crew will be sent to assess if trees need to be cut. If the trees do need to be cut, then the target timeline to have them cut is within four weeks.

Costs for essential tree-cutting will also be borne by the company.

The degree to which the tree will be cut will depend on the situation and the risk it poses. The usual approach in a case such as this is trimming back the branches, but the tree may also need to be cut if it is deemed to be in poor condition, or if there is a chance it could come in contact with electricity lines upon falling.

Grant aid can be secured on the replacement of slats provided agitation points are external to the shed.

Arthur also points out that where a trained tree surgeon is carrying out the work, the ESB still needs to be contacted to check if lines need to be temporarily disconnected while the job is being done.

There was an article in the Irish Farmers Journal recently that said grant aid can be redeemed for replacing old slats. I have a shed that was built over 25 years ago - is there any particular criteria that must be followed?

The main safety element in older sheds that often determines if grant aid can be acquired under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) is that the agitation point must be located outside the shed. Grant aid will not be given if the agitation point or points are inside the shed.

However, there is grant aid available for extending an existing tank to provide for the installation of an external agitation point. The reference cost for this is a maximum of €4,125 excluding VAT. The reference cost for replacing cattle and sheep slats is €47.30/m2 while the reference cost for replacing an existing manhole cover is €407 per item.

The tank must also be structurally sound and provide for a load bearing of at least 150mm on each side for slats to sit safely. Where a tank is being extended, it must be carried out according to the specifications listed in S123A and S123.

I am finalising the completion of a building project which is grant- aided under TAMS II. I am told I need to complete a health and safety course to be eligible to draw down grant aid. What is involved in this and where can I complete it?

In order to comply with the terms and conditions of TAMS II, you must have completed a half-day farm safety code of practice course within the last five years. The course is not required where an applicant has completed the FETAC Level 6 QQ1 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (Green Cert) within the last five years. Teagasc and the Farm Relief Service (FRS) both hold regular courses, but other trained persons can also deliver a course.

The FRS courses are listed on their website, www.frstraining.com, while Teagasc advise farmers to get in touch with the designated contact for each county, which is listed here . If you do not have access to online resources, your local office will be able to help.

Regarding what specific course is required for the various types of applicants, the TAMS II terms and conditions lays out the following:

  • For a registered farm partnership or company, the course must have been completed by a young farmer. In the case of a company with no young farmer, the course may be completed by one of the directors or the farm manager.
  • In the case of a joint application from two eligible young farmers in a registered farm partnership, only one of the applicants needs to have completed the course.
  • For individual applicants that have a nominated herd-keeper, either the herd owner or the herd-keeper can complete the safety course.
  • The Safe Family Farms initiative aims to make farms a safer place to work and reduce the risk of accidents occurring. If you have any safety questions you want answered, send them to safefamilyfarms@farmersjournal.ie and we will endeavour to get them resolved.