asked the Minister for Health the present position on health education and hygiene for young people; and if all the health boards are participating in this type of scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Education and Hygiene.
3.
Young people are the principal target group of the Health Education Bureau's campaigns to discourage smoking and excessive drinking and to promote general fitness and health.
In July 1984 health boards were asked by the Department of Health to organise regular talks on hygiene in schools, particularly concerning food, as part of educational measures to improve the standard and awareness of hygiene throughout the country. Health boards are in touch with my Department on this matter and other measures to promote food hygiene. Some health boards organise special school projects which include an element specifically devoted to hygiene.
All health boards support health education programmes which aim to promote a healthy lifestyle among young people.
Are all the health boards participating in the health education programme? Have they information available to send to schools, including notes for teachers on health, hygiene and diet? What amount of money is being provided this year for the health education programme for young people?
I would make the point that three health boards, the North Western, Southern and Mid Western, organise health education programmes in schools, which include information on the importance of hygiene. I refer the Deputy in particular to the North Western Health Board and the Lifestyle programmes which are organised by them in conjunction with the HEB and the videos, a substantial number of which are available in the area. Other health boards could usefully emulate that outstanding example.
Do all health boards produce a community newsletter, as I know the Western Health Board do for schools?
I am aware that the Western Health Board issue a community newsletter. The information is similar in other health board areas and indeed quite elaborate in them. A great deal of information is issued for the school system.
What level of co-operation is there between the Health Education Bureau and school authorities? Is the Minister satisfied with the present level of co-operation?
The HEB are extremely anxious to co-operate at all levels. On one recent development on the question of sex education relative to the Health Education Bureau's work, the chairman is a second level teacher, a member of the HEB. They are very anxious to keep in direct touch and to provide a range of services. This year they have a very substantial budget of £1.75 million, which is an increase of £½ million over what they had last year. The HEB have sufficient resources and a 40 per cent increase in their budget this year to go in and do this work.
Will there be priority given to this work out of that budget?
Yes. The Government would like to see pressure brought by Deputies and teachers on the HEB to avail of the resources which exist there in relation to health education generally.
4.
asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of concern regarding the contents and enforcement of hygiene regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the food hygiene regulations.
These regulations constitute a sound statutory basis for the control of standards of food hygiene. Certain suggestions for amendments are under consideration, but I do not think there is any significant deficiency in the present regulations.
The regulations are enforced by the health boards. I am satisfied that each health board is aware of the importance of an effective enforcement programme in its area. In the light of a survey of the operation of the services last year, my Department have asked each health board to review their present arrangements for the enforcement of the regulations and to furnish a report on the matter.
Is the Minister aware of claims that under these regulations it is not possible, even where a registered premises — a restaurant or the like — has been established to be a serious danger to public health, for a court order, even for temporary closure of those premises, to be obtained?
I am not aware in relation to a temporary court order, but I know that great care is exercised by the health boards and the supervising health inspectors to make quite sure that the presentation of any evidence to the courts is watertight. The Deputy knows the impact of such cases on the work of a restaurant and, indeed, a hotel. By and large, the enforcement officers exercise a considerable degree of discretion and work quite well. I have not had any major criticism of that aspect of the regulations.
Is the Minister further aware that the regulations in question were made in 1947 and that the maximum fine is £100? Is he also aware that the chief executive of the Irish Quality Control Association claimed recently that the vital food and tourist industries were being held to ransom by unacceptable standards of hygiene and, because the regulations were so old, the fines so inadequate and because it was impossible to close down premises, there was absolutely nothing that could be done to bring irresponsible owners of registered premises into line? In the circumstances, would the Minister consider a comprehensive review of the regulations in question?
I agree with the Deputy that the maximum permissible fines do need to be brought in line with presentday money values. I shall be availing of an opportunity, in amending the Health Act of 1970, to update the penalty provision which, as the Deputy says, was fixed in 1947. The current regulations are quite comprehensive. I am very familiar with them because I served as a member on the food hygiene regulations committee before being a member of the House. I can assure the Deputy that our Department are determined that these regulations will be effectively enforced.
A final supplementary question. If, on a further examination of the regulations, the Minister is satisfied that, even where a serious danger to health arises, the health bureau are not in a position to obtain a court order to close down the premises, will he bring in amendments to the regulation to give them that necessary power where there is a serious danger to public health?
There is a problem about peremptory closure. Only in the most exceptional circumstances is the State in a position to have closure by formal injunction because of the prospect of damages and so on if a valid defence is subsequently made.
But where it is established that there is a serious danger to public health?
I will examine the matter in that regard. I am very anxious that there should be stringent regulations. I might make the point that in a very large number of Irish restaurants and pubs in particular where food is served in my view the standards of hygiene are not particularly high.
Hear, hear.
Apart from food from restaurants, there were no such things as fast food restaurants in 1947 when the regulations were introduced. Would the Minister also accept that in view of the amount of food now sold that is pre-packaged these regulations are totally out of date, that vendors are being brought into court for pre-packaged food they are selling in respect of which they have no responsibility and that the rather it is the responsibility of the manufacturers? Would he also accept that the regulations do not appropriately cover these fast food restaurants? Would the Minister approach the directors of community care, ascertaining their views on the present food hygiene regulations, and then consider amending the legislation or introducing new legislation?
I would accept that there have been many recent developments, such as the advent of the fast food operations, the take-aways and the mobile food stalls. But there is a specific power under the regulations which provides for the seizure of unfit foods — that is a peremptory prospect immediately — and indeed for the destruction of the food itself. I will examine the regulations. I will check again with the directors of community care if they are finding any problem of major significance in the area. Perhaps the Deputy might put down a question again in two or three months' time and I shall process it through.