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FRS Training featured on "Ear To The Ground" on RTE One Television

Last December, as part of the 18th series of this hugely popular farming and rural affairs series, RTE's "Ear To The Ground" presenter Helen Carroll and her crew visited FRS Training's Head Office and Training Centre in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary to film one of FRS Training’s “Safe Tractor Driving Skills Programme” with students from Collaiste Phobal, Roscrea.

This “Safe Tractor Driving Programme” is the only one of its kind in the country and is aimed at teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16 years old. Its main focus is on teaching the teenager how to operate and drive a tractor safely, with practical instruction being a key component of the training. Tractors nowadays have become increasingly larger in size and faster in speed so they can pull heavier and bigger loads as a result they may be more dangerous to inexperienced drivers. The vast majority of Fatal Farm accidents occur when using a tractor on its own firstly and secondly when attaching or using other implements.

Jim Dockery, Training Manager with FRS Training limited, is fully convinced that teaching the correct safety procedures to young people is key to making them safe on farms when operating tractors and other machinery. These training courses called “Safe Tractor Driving” are available throughout the country and groups are generally organised through local schools aimed at transition years. For more details please contact 0505-31588

The "Ear To The Ground" crew was accompanied by 2 colleagues from "Down Under", Amanda and Darren Collins. Amanda is the Producer of a similar rural affairs show in Australia called "Landline" on the ABC Network. You can visit her blog where she mentions her trip to Ireland (http://blogs.abc.net.au/theoverflow/amanda-collins/)

The program was filmed on December 16th in FRS Training's Head Office and Training Centre in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, and aired on February 15th.

Click HERE to watch the program or copy this url into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GEECaAi2JE (this link is provided courtesy of RTE, and may only work for a few weeks following the program's airing)