asked the Minister for Labour the total number of staff employed in his Department on occupational health and safety functions; the grades of these staff; and the locations of these staff.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Occupational Health and Safety Functions.
25.
The total number of staff in my Department who are currently employed on occupational health and safety functions is 66.
The following are the grades of those staff: Chief Industrial Inspector; Deputy Chief Industrial Inspector; Industrial Inspector Grade 1; Industrial Inspector Grade 2; Industrial Inspector Grade 3; Director Occupational Medical Service; Occupational Medical Adviser; Principal; Assistant Principal; Higher Executive Officer; Executive Officer; Staff Officer; Clerical Officer; Clerical Assistant.
These staff are located at my Department's headquarters — Davitt House, Mespil Road, Dublin 4, with the exception of some officers of the industrial inspectorate who are located at the following provincial centres, namely, Cork, Athlone, Galway, Limerick, Drogheda, Waterford and Sligo.
Is there likely to be a drop in the number of people employed in the Department of Labour as a result of the proposed legislation on health and safety at work?
Initially while we try to set up the advisory body it will affect the people in the Department of Labour. We hope to transfer some of the people on the Civil Service and semi-State secondment lists to the health and safety areas but the numbers employed will be higher rather than lower.
In regard to the measure of self-regulation proposed by the Minister, does he still maintain that 66 people will be employed in his Department for this purpose?
Eventually more people will be required but not in my Department. They will be employed by the new authority under the health and safety legislation.
That is tomorrow's work.