Vol. 497 No. 2
67 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Health and Safety Authority has been asked by her to carry out an investigation into the dangers of medite dust in woodwork rooms in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24664/98]
It is the Health and Safety Authority which has overall day to day responsibility for the administration and enforcement of occupational safety and health legislation as provided for under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, and other relevant statutory provisions.
The authority has included schools in its inspection programmes and established an advisory committee on occupational safety and health at second levels in the education sector which reported in December 1995. In the above report there was no mention of this hazard as being among the main priority areas concerning the health of teachers which were stress and anxiety followed by back problems. While the authority is not aware of any specific difficulties which have arisen in this area, should any particular matter need to be brought to its attention I advise the
