Olwyn Enright
Question:350 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the person responsible at primary school level in fulfilling the conditions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. [8275/03]
Written Answers - Health and Safety Regulations.
Olwyn Enright
Question:352 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if submissions have been made to him by anybody in relation to schools buildings projects highlighting the urgency of them in order to fulfil the conditions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. [8277/03]
Olwyn Enright
Question:353 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has ascertained the person who is responsible for a breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 in a school. [8278/03]
Olwyn Enright
Question:354 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if inspections will be carried out in schools to ensure that they are complying with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. [8279/03]
Olwyn Enright
Question:355 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Health and Safety Authority has visited schools; if so, the schools it has visited since the 1989 Act was introduced; and the outcome of those visits. [8280/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 352 to 355, inclusive, together.
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place.
School authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. It is open to school management authorities or individuals to make direct contact with the HSA in relation to matters of concern to them. My Department would not necessarily be aware of such communications. Where they are issued, notifications from the HSA are sent to the management authorities of schools.
Primary schools are given an annual allocation of €3,809 plus €12.70 per pupil under the grant scheme for minor works. This can be used entirely at the discretion of school management to address basic health and safety issues relating to the school infrastructure. In addition, my Department has set aside a contingency sum of €8.7 million to deal with emergency works, including emergency health and safety works, during 2003.
Olwyn Enright
Question:351 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the person responsible at secondary school level in fulfilling the conditions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. [8276/03]
School authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, it is the responsibility of school management authorities to have a safety statement in place in their schools. Schools are obliged to identify possible hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate safeguards in place.
Questions Nos. 352 to 355, inclusive, answered with Question No. 350.