Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - VEC School Building Projects.

Noel Dempsey

Question:

439 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education the reason her Department is seeking an indemnity from vocational education committees under the Health and Safety Regulations for vocational committee school building projects in view of the fact that insurance companies are refusing to provide this cover and it is not required by other Departments for their building projects: the reason it applies to vocational education committee building projects and not to third-level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15172/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995 came into operation on 6 June 1995, with the exception of section 31 (1) and 5, which became operative on 1 March 1996. The purpose of the regulations is to improve safety on construction sites. S.I. No. 138 of 1995 — Safety. Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995 — implements in Ireland, European Directive 92/57/EEC and imposes statutory obligations on the client, the designer and the contractor.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the vocational education committees are statutory bodies and, as the contracting authority, are clients in respect of building projects. My Department's concern is to ensure that the vocational education committees understand their obligations under, and comply in all respects with, this legislation and that they indicate this in writing.