Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 7

Written Answers - Health and Safety Regulations.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

57 Mr. O'Shea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of deaths and injuries in the construction industry between 1990 and 1 December 1998; and the staffing levels of the Health and Safety Authority for the same period. [26127/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

Statistical information on deaths and accidents in the construction sector and which are reported to the Health and Safety Authority, the State body with responsibility for the day-to-day enforcement of workplace health and safety, are contained in the annual reports of the authority which are presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

	Reported Injuries	Reported Fatalities
1990	147	Not specified
1991	176	10
1992	247	12
1993	212	11
1994	216	10
1995	253	13
1996	335	14
1997	477	15
1998 (Jan.-Nov.)	468	21

The Health and Safety Authority was established under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, with a staff of 69. There has been a gradual increase in the staffing levels of the authority since that time. I recently sanctioned an additional 13 staff. The total sanctioned staff for the authority is now 132.