Food Safety Standards Inspections

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

Ceisteanna (1448)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

1448. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of environmental health officers employed in each county; the number of inspections of food outlets they have carried out by county in each of the past three years and to date in 2018; the number of closure orders made by county in the same period in tabular form; if inspections of food outlets are also carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32946/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Official control inspections in food businesses are carried out by a range of State bodies (‘official agencies’) under service contracts with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), including the HSE; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Local Authorities; the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority; and the National Standards Authority of Ireland.  Each official agency has responsibility for official controls in certain sectors of the food supply chain.  Food retailers and the food service sector are inspected by the HSE’s Environmental Health Officers.

The FSAI does not generally conduct inspections of food businesses. Occasionally investigations or audits are conducted by the FSAI as part of its oversight role, which may involve inspections in food businesses with official agencies.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding the aspects of the question relating to the Environmental Health Service.