asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents reported to his Department under the Factories Acts in 1938 and 1953; (b) the number of inspectors of his Department engaged in inspectorial duties under the said Acts in those years, and (c) whether it is intended to increase the number of inspectors in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Factories Acts.
In 1953 there were 11 fatal and 1,262 non-fatal accidents reported to my Department under the Factories Acts, compared with 16 fatal and 1,220 non-fatal accidents in 1938.
In 1938 there were 19 inspectors engaged in inspectorial duties under the Factories Acts—one chief inspector of factories, one district inspector of factories, two senior industrial inspectors and 15 industrial inspectors. In 1953, there were 16 inspectors engaged in factory inspection duties— one district inspector of factories, two senior industrial inspectors and 13 industrial inspectors.
There are two vacant posts of industrial inspector and it is hoped to fill these shortly.