Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2021
12. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, has in risk assessing construction sites in advance of level 5 lockdowns; the monitoring of compliance with level 5 restrictions it conducts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2430/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Government Level 5 restrictions only construction sites considered essential are allowed to remain open. The limited list of essential construction sites that can remain open from 8 January is set out on www.gov.ie.
The Health and Safety Authority has no role in determining whether any business, including construction sites, is essential or not. However, inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority have continued, at the various levels of COVID-19 restrictions, to carry out inspections of individual construction sites to ensure that such sites are in compliance with the Work Safely Protocol and that COVID Response Plans are in place, as well as checking that compliance with existing statutory occupational safety and health regulations are being maintained.
The Health and Safety Authority will continue to act as the lead agency in relation to the assessment of compliance with the Work Safely Protocol in businesses which remain open at the various levels of restrictions. Up to 700 additional inspectors remain available to also carry out compliance inspections across various sectors of the economy.
