Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue with the Minister. Several issues regarding the presence of previously unidentified quantities of asbestos at domestic dwellings have been brought to my attention in recent weeks. Asbestos poses serious health risks. There is an onus on the Minister of State to ensure that all possible measures are taken to protect the people of the State from the health risks connected with exposure to asbestos. I am concerned the instances are indicative of a wider problem in respect of the presence of asbestos and a decline in public awareness of its dangers

South Dublin County Council's Sinn Féin councillor, Cathal King, recently raised with the county manager the issue of asbestos sheeting used as the main material in the roofs of all outhouses built between the late 1970s and mid 1980s by Dublin Corporation and County Council. These houses are now in South Dublin County Council's administrative area. He asked the manager a series of questions regarding the presence of this asbestos, the health risk which it posed, the procedures in place for tenants to have the asbestos sheeting removed and whether the council was prepared to replace the asbestos sheeting for tenants.

The manager confirmed that asbestos carrying material was used in a large proportion of roofs of fuel sheds in former Dublin Corporation Housing stock but claimed it poses little risk. He also claimed the material poses minimal risk to the tenants or workers. The manager continued in his reply that it is advisable not to remove the material. He stated:

However, under the refurbishment programme, the roof covering is being removed by South Dublin County Council staff, where the integrity of the roof is found to be breached, i.e. in poor condition due to leaks. All removal is being carried out in accordance with best practice and current health and safety regulations. Training is in place for all county council operatives involved in this work.

This is not an adequate reply because there is a real risk that some homeowners will interfere with the asbestos sheeting while involved in DIY work on their property, a summer activity for most householders. Some may independently undertake work to dismantle these sheds and become exposed to the asbestos material. An information leaflet from ENFO warns that disturbance of such materials by non-specialists could cause risks to health. Given that this material has to be dealt with at some stage and has a limited lifespan, will the Minister of State agree that it is best to put in place a programme for the removal of all such asbestos material? Has the Minister of State given consideration to introducing a scheme of assistance for householders removing asbestos from their homes? Will the Minister of State instruct all councils to make householders aware where asbestos sheeting is contained in the roofs of sheds of former local authority dwellings?

Another similar case was brought to my attention by Fingal County Council's Sinn Féin councillor, Felix Gallagher. He was approached by a constituent who, while carrying out some work in his house, discovered asbestos panelling in the ESB circuit board box. When Councillor Gallagher looked into this issue, he was told that every house in the State built between 1974 and 1982 was fitted with this asbestos cement panelling in the ESB circuit board box. Will the Minister direct the ESB to remove this asbestos panelling? The real problem is that people are not aware there is asbestos in their home or on their property. While the information leaflet entitled Asbestos in Your Home, available from ENFO, refers to the possibility of asbestos in shed roofs in the section, Where Might Asbestos Be Encountered in Homes, it does not refer to asbestos panelling in ESB circuit board boxes. Will the Minister at least ensure this leaflet is amended to make people aware that asbestos is contained in ESB circuit board boxes?

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Morgan for raising this issue. In the past, asbestos-containing materials were used in some roofing materials, as a constituent of some floor tiling and in some fire resistant panels. The extent of usage of asbestos-containing materials in housing construction since the 1970s is not known to my Department. However, the marketing and reuse of asbestos products has been banned since 1 April 2000. While it is a matter for individual authorities responsible for housing maintenance to consider, in particular circumstances, the desirability of removing asbestos-containing materials present in their rented housing stock, it is not considered necessary to instigate a specific programme in this respect. The Department has not been requested by local authorities to do so generally.

In the case of South Dublin County Council, as the county manager outlined to the council some weeks ago, a large percentage of former Dublin Corporation housing stock, now managed by the council, used asbestos-containing material in the roof of fuel sheds. The council employed a company to advise on the health and safety issues arising. This company carried out a risk assessment and advised that the asbestos-containing material used in the construction of these roofs poses little risk. The council has, therefore, concluded there is no requirement from a health or risk perspective to remove the material and it is advisable not to do so.

The council has, however, advised that when they are undertaking improvement works to their rented stock under the refurbishment programme, the roof covering is being removed where the integrity of the roof is found to be breached. All removal is being carried out in line with best practice and current health and safety regulations while training is in place for the operatives involved.

The possible use of asbestos in electricity installations is a matter for the ESB and I have no responsibility in this area. From a general perspective, where risk assessments indicate that asbestos should be removed, the removal and disposal must comply with regulations. An information leaflet entitled, Asbestos in Your Home, is available from ENFO, my Department's public information service on environmental matters. This includes advice on the maintenance of asbestos materials and their removal and disposal. The leaflet advises the public to contact the Health and Safety Authority to obtain information on the handling and use of asbestos.

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the preparation of the national hazardous waste management plan with regard to the prevention and minimisation of hazardous waste, the recovery of hazardous waste, the collection and movement of hazardous waste and the disposal of such hazardous waste as cannot be prevented or recovered. Any proposed form of treatment or disposal of asbestos must be consistent with this plan and subject to stringent Environmental Protection Agency licensing requirements. I emphasise that the regulatory framework and the appropriate advice is available to deal with concerns relating to asbestos-containing materials used in construction in the past, including its safe removal and disposal where necessary.

While asbestos is a dangerous product, materials with a small percentage of asbestos are not dangerous when it is tightly bound into the cement mix. If it is not disturbed and the fibres are not released into the air, it is of no danger.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Will the ENFO leaflet be amended to indicate this is present in ESB circuit board boxes?

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure if people will excessively toy with their fuseboards. It is not an asbestos fuseboard but one with a content of asbestos in it. There could only be 0.5% of asbestos in a product. A health and safety consultant employed to examine this matter, recommended there is no need to do anything. When general refurbishment programmes are introduced, these materials will be replaced at that time.