Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

Written Answers. - Asbestos Usage.

Nora Owen

Question:

52 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of buildings identified by the Health and Safety Authority as containing asbestos; the action, if any, taken when such a building is found; the number of licences, if any, issued to import asbestos; the amount imported in the past five years; the number of people making claims through the authority due to the fact they or a relative have contracted asbestoses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6562/99]

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

The Health and Safety Authority is the statutory body responsible for the promotion of occupational safety and health and for the day to day administration and enforcement of relevant statutory provisions in this area.

I am advised by the authority that it does not have specific figures on the number of buildings containing asbestos material. One of the areas prioritised by the authority in 1997 and 1998 was asbestos, and they carried out over 100 asbestos related inspections in both years. These included hospitals, schools and other public buildings. In some cases, the authority served improvement notices requiring corrective action to be taken within a specified period, and in some instances prohibition notices were served banning worker access to potentially contaminated areas. During 1998 the authority also met with all known asbestos removal contractors and outlined the legal requirements regarding the removal of asbestos. A guideline on worker exposure to asbestos was also produced.

I understand that this year, the HSA is again focusing on asbestos and plans to carry out a minimum of 100 related inspections. This will include inspections of buildings for asbestos installations, inspections of asbestos removal activities and of demolition/refurbishment sites. The authority has also planned three full-day asbestos related seminars with the objective of educating key persons and bodies and plans to produce a further publication on the issue for the information of workers who may encounter asbestos materials in the course of their work.

There is no requirement to obtain a licence to import asbestos. The authority does not have precise figures on the quantities of asbestos imported in the past five years and I suggest the Deputy contact either the Central Statistics Office or the customs and excise division of the Revenue Commissioners for this information. I should point out, however, that the marketing and use of all types of asbestos with the exception of chrysotile, white asbestos, have been banned in this country since the mid 1980s. A proposal to ban white asbestos is currently being examined at EU level.

As the authority has a preventive role in occu pational health and safety matters it does not process civil claims for workers who have contracted asbestos-related diseases. However, I understand that 19 asbestos related diseases were reported to the authority in 1995, four cases in 1996 and seven cases in 1997.