Written Answers Nos. 186-194
186. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Authority and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government regarding progress made on the review under way on aspects of legislation relating to regulation of fairground equipment and funfairs and specific legislative provisions relating to fairground equipment. [7995/18]
View answerThe Health and Safety Authority is the national statutory Body with responsibility for ensuring that the provisions on workplace health and safety in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act are implemented so that those affected by work activity are protected from work-related injury and ill health. The 2005 Act places a range of duties on undertakings and individuals to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the safety, health and welfare at work of employees.
I should point out that neither I nor the Health and Safety Authority have any statutory responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of users of fairground equipment and funfairs nor any role in the regulation of public safety where the operation of fairground equipment, used by members of the public, is concerned.
I am not involved in, or leading on, any review of legislation relating to the regulation of fairground equipment and funfairs or any other specific legislative provisions relating to fairground equipment.
I am aware that officials of the Health and Safety Authority, and of my Department, met with officials of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in May 2017. At this meeting the Health and Safety Authority outlined its role and responsibilities arising from the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
I should point out that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government currently has responsibility for the licensing of funfairs and fairground equipment. In this regard my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government would be best placed to provide an update on the matter.
187. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of full and part-time staff hired under the €3 million allocation in budget 2018 to the evolving Brexit scenario to each State agency to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7996/18]
View answerThe State Agencies listed below have received an additional pay allocation in Budget 2018 to manage the impact of Brexit. It is important to note however that the work of very many Business Units both within my Department and its Agencies are impacted by Brexit and are responding to it outside of the specific numbers mentioned below.
Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland were allocated an additional €1.3 million in funding in Budget 2018 specifically for the purpose of responding to Brexit and this is being allocated to recruit an additional 18 Brexit related staff. Recruitment began in January.
IDA Ireland
IDA Ireland was allocated an additional €700,000 in funding as part of Budget 2018 to further reinforce the Agency’s staffing levels. IDA Ireland is structured by global sectorial teams to align with the requirements of its organisational strategy. As such, every business development sector and staff member, is focussed on Brexit and its impact, as are the senior management team within the organisation. Recruitment for additional staff has commenced.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
SFI have been allocated €400k to support recruitment and assist in the Brexit response in 2018. SFI are currently in the process of recruiting for the position of Head of International and this individual will be leading SFI’s many Brexit related activities. There may also be realignment of other responsibilities within the organisation which is likely to impact the 2018 Budget allocation.
Health and Safety Authority
The Health and Safety Authority have been allocated an additional €400k in Budget 2018 for Brexit. No staff have been hired to date in the HSA using its 2018 Brexit related funding.
188. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of the sanctioned recruitment of six inspector posts for the farm inspection programme for the Health and Safety Authority which have been filled to date. [8031/18]
View answerThe Health & Safety Authority recently completed a recruitment campaign for 11 inspector posts, six of which are field inspection posts and these six inspectors will have an involvement in future farm inspection campaigns. All six posts are now filled.
The Health & Safety Authority Programme of Work for 2018 has a target of 2000 farm inspections during the year with three focused farm inspection campaigns. These campaigns will be supported by the use of both national and local media to raise awareness of key farm risks. Year three of the current Farm Safety Action Plan 2016-2018 of the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee will be implemented during 2018 and work will start on the development of a new Farm Safety Action Plan for 2019-2021.
189. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the amount allocated by the Health and Safety Authority for farm safety initiatives in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the number of inspections in each year in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8032/18]
View answerThe amount allocated by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) for farm safety initiatives in the years 2010 to 2017 with an estimated expenditure for 2018 and the number of farm inspections and investigations 2010– 2018 are set out in the attached tables.
The HSA originally allocated a budget of €384,000 for farm safety initiatives in 2017. However, actual expenditure was higher at €533,995 due to the allocation of additional funding by my Department during 2017.
In 2018 the HSA has allocated approximately €624,000 for farm safety initiatives. The actual figure expended might vary during the year in response to particular issues that arise in this or other sectors. These initiatives will involve the organisation of, participation in, or support of a wide range of agriculture related events as well as media coverage. The Authority will also engage in a number of targeted promotional campaigns through relevant media.
In 2018 the HSA is also carrying out three focused inspection campaigns each of one-month duration. The first focuses on Livestock Handling and is currently under way. The second campaign on Farm Vehicle Safety will take place in May and the third on Maintenance and Working at a Height will take place in October. As well as these specific campaigns other national campaigns related to vehicle and construction safety will have relevance to the farming sector.
In addition to specific farm safety initiatives or inspections visits to farms by inspectors include routine unannounced inspections to monitor compliance with a range of health and safety regulations and to investigate farm accidents. In any one year there can be between 60-90 investigations on farms with the rest being unannounced inspections.
The planned target of farm inspections was significantly increased in 2010 from 1,500 per year to 3,000 and its impact assessed over the following 5 year period. However, the increased level of inspection showed no significant reduction in farm deaths.
Since 2014 the HSA has redirected some of its inspection resources toward engaging directly with farmers on other accident prevention initiatives. Research has shown that farmers working in peer to peer groups, such as Knowledge Transfer Groups take on new information, new procedures, and new technology more easily and make more lasting changes in the way they farm when involved with such groups. The objective is to bring about sustainable changes to work practices and controlling risk.
The reduction of farm inspection numbers from a target of 3,000 to 2,000 for 2018 is a planned strategy by the HSA to allow its team of farm inspectors to offer strong support to the Knowledge Transfer Groups. During 2017 HSA inspectors were involved with over 100 such Groups, in addition to farm walks, thereby reaching a further 2,000 farmers through such engagements. The use of Knowledge Transfer Groups will continue in 2018.
In addition, the HSA recently completed a recruitment campaign for 11 inspector posts, 6 of which are field inspection posts and have now been filled. These 6 inspectors will be involved in future farm inspection campaigns thereby helping to ensure that farm inspection targets will be achieved.
Table of Expenditure on Farm Safety Initiatives 2011 to 2017
|
Year |
Expenditure * |
|
2010 |
€264,000 ** |
|
2011 |
€264,481 |
|
2012 |
€589,870 |
|
2013 |
€449,669 |
|
2014 |
€327,953 |
|
2015 |
€396,251 |
|
2016 |
€416,917 |
|
2017 |
€533,995 |
|
2018 (estimated) |
€624,000 |
*Note: Annual figures for expenditure include some cross sectorial initiatives where the expenditure is also relevant to other sectors. As it is not possible to extract this it has been included as the full figure.
** Note: The expenditure figure for farm safety initiatives in 2010 was recorded on a now defunct financial system and is no longer accessible but was similar to expenditure for 2011.
Set out below also is a table showing the breakdown of the annual farm inspection numbers carried out by the HSA from 2010 to date in 2018 (Feb. 13th).
Farm inspections and investigations 2010 – 2018
|
Year |
Number of farm Inspections and Investigations |
|
2010 |
1,646 |
|
2011 |
3,058 |
|
2012 |
3,136 |
|
2013 |
2,784 |
|
2014 |
2,644 |
|
2015 |
3,056 |
|
2016 |
2,008 |
|
2017 |
1,776 |
|
2018 |
160 (target 2,000) |
190. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if a matter regarding a school (details supplied) will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7897/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
191. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the estimated savings to the health sector if alcohol consumption fell by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7912/18]
View answer192. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health the estimated improvements in life expectancy by 2030 and 2050 if alcohol consumption fell by 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7913/18]
View answer193. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health his plans to give priority to reducing alcohol consumption by 25% by 2030 in view of the fact that it is a major factor in a range of illnesses, particularly high rates of cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7914/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together.
The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill is in the Programme for a Partnership Government and is currently undergoing second stage in Dáil Eireann. One of the primary policy objectives of the Bill is to reduce alcohol consumption to 9.1 litres of pure alcohol per person per annum by 2020. This equates to a 20% reduction of the 2016 consumption figure of 11.46 litres.
The remaining policy objective are to:
- delay the initiation of alcohol consumption by children and young people;
- reduce the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol; and
- regulate the supply and price of alcohol in order to minimise the possibility and incidence of alcohol related harm.
These objectives were developed in recognition that alcohol causes harms to health, significant costs to the Exchequer and that alcohol consumption in Ireland remains high.
The principles guiding the objectives are that the harms of alcohol make it unlike other grocery products, that consumers should be able to make informed choices about their drinking and that it is time that children and young people’s relationship with alcohol was addressed.
Research carried out by the University of Sheffield on behalf of the Department of Health indicates that both Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) and promotion ban policies are effective at improving alcohol related health outcomes. The estimated impact of a 10 cent MUP as set out in the Bill, indicates that among high risk drinkers alcohol attributable deaths per 100,000 drinkers will reduce by 69 per year and among low risk drinkers, alcohol attributable deaths per 100,000 drinkers will reduce by 1 per year.
In terms of hospital admissions, there would be an estimated 5,878 fewer alcohol attributable admissions each year for high risk drinker groups. The annual rate of alcohol attributable admissions per 100,000 drinkers is estimated to reduce by 1,964 for high risk drinkers and by 28 for low risk drinkers. The majority of these gains are in improved chronic disease outcomes, particularly alcoholic liver disease.
194. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason an organisation (details supplied) is excluded from the regulation process by CORU. [7822/18]
View answerThe Physiotherapists Registration Board established its register on 30 September 2016. When the 2-year transitional period ends in September 2018 entitlement to use the title of physiotherapist will be confined to members of the register.
In many countries around the world the titles of physical therapist and physiotherapist are interchangeable and their users are qualified physiotherapists. In Ireland, however, the title is also used by a number of practitioners who are not physiotherapists but who have been providing musculoskeletal therapies in the private sector for many years. Physiotherapists are trained to provide musculoskeletal, cardio/respiratory and neurological therapies, working in both the public and private sector. In December last year I made regulations to prescribe the title of physical therapist as a variant of the title of physiotherapist. The protection of the title will eliminate the ongoing risk of title confusion and the consequent risks to public safety. The effect of prescribing the title of physical therapist as a variant of the title of physiotherapist will be to protect both titles under the Health and Social Care Professional Council 2005 Act by confining their use solely to registrants of the profession of physiotherapist and to permit the registration in the register of physiotherapists, on a once-off basis and for a limited period, of qualified users of the title of physical therapist.
Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists are one of a growing number of aspirant professions seeking regulation by the Health and Social Care Professional Council (CORU). Section 4 of the Health and Social Care Professional Council 2005 Act provides that the Minister for Health may, following a consultation process and with the approval of the Houses of the Oireachtas, make regulations designating a health or social care profession not already designated if the Minister considers it in the public interest to do so.
It is envisaged that the registration boards of all of the designated professions will be established by the end of 2018. With my recent decision to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist, CORU will be responsible for the regulation of 16 health and social care professions.
CORU will then be asked to undertake a risk assessment, in terms of public protection, of the principal health and social care professions seeking designation under the Act and to make recommendations concerning options for their possible future regulation. The question of designating other professions providing musculoskeletal therapies, including the profession of athletic rehabilitation therapist will be considered as part of that process.
