Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 3

Written Answers. - Health and Safety Regulations.

Ulick Burke

Question:

76 Mr. U. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspectors available in County Galway to carry out checks under the health and safety regulations; the number of checks carried out in each of the past five years; the result of these checks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18701/00]

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

The Health and Safety Authority is the State body with responsibility for the day-to-day enforcement of occupational health and safety. The authority was established under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989.

The authority has informed me that there are currently five inspectors based in their Galway regional office, three of whom are engaged full-time in inspection duties. In the period 1995 to date, inspector staffing levels in the Galway office varied from one to two inspectors to the current level which was reached in 1999 as part of the authority's expansion of its services in the western region. From time to time, in addition to inspections carried out by locally based inspectors, inspections are undertaken by other inspectors based outside the region relating to matters such as occupational hygiene or the transport of dangerous goods. During the period 18 to 22 October 1999, eight additional inspectors participated in a special construction inspection campaign in the area.

The following is the inspection data for County Galway for the five year period 1995-99:

Year	Visits	Enforcement Actions				Reported Accidents
		Improvement Notices	Prohibition Notices	Improvement Directions	Fatal	Non-Fatal
1995	121	31	6	1	4	157
1996	520	27	10	1	4	175
1997	434	47	9	17	1	211
1998	285	23	3	10	2	221
1999	658	39	49	8	2	338
Total	2,018	167	77	37	13	1,102