Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
65. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of establishments investigated by the HSA for breaches of guidelines on return to work since 29 June 2020 by county and business activity in tabular form. [15132/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, there is a whole of Government approach to monitoring compliance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol. The Health and Safety Authority inspectorate has been supplemented by approximately 500 other inspectors from across the system to monitor the application of the Return to Work Safely Protocol. These additional inspectors are drawn from the Workplace Relations Commission, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Environmental Health Officers employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and they are checking compliance with the Protocol as part of their normal inspection duties.
Since the start of Phase 3, which included the reopening of the hospitality and tourism sectors, the Environment Health Officers have been particularly active checking businesses in these sectors. I am pleased that a high level of compliance has been reported. In total up to the 8th of July, which is the latest information available, over 6,500 Return to Work Safely inspections were completed by the combined inspectorate. Over 1,400 of these were completed between 29th of June and the 8th of July and many of these inspections focused on the food and tourism sector. Inspection figures are provided at aggregate level on a weekly basis.
In terms of the HSA specifically, overall since the economy reopened to the 8th of July the Authority has carried out 2,236 Return to Work Safely inspections. A sectoral breakdown for the HSA COVID19 inspections for the period in question is attached.
Details of HSA inspections and investigations per economic sector between the week of 29 th of June and the 8 th of July is set out below;
|
SECTOR |
NUMBER |
|
Construction |
101 |
|
Retail and Wholesale etc. |
48 |
|
Manufacturing |
36 |
|
Transport and Storage |
19 |
|
Agriculture |
12 |
|
Healthcare and Social care |
4 |
|
Professional and technical services |
4 |
|
Accommodation and Food |
3 |
|
Other Business sectors |
22 |
|
Total |
249 |
