Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of deaths and injuries reported arising from industrial accidents in each year from 2000 to 2004 and to date in 2005; the further steps he intends to take to reduce the level of such accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25435/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The number of workplace accidents and deaths recorded for the years from 2000 to 2005 — 23 September has been forwarded to the Deputy. The statistics show that the rate of workplace accidents per 100,000 employers has shown a steady decline since the year 2000. I am confident that the Health and Safety Authority will continue through its various prevention and enforcement programmes to achieve improvements in safety and health at work.

The Government's commitment to ensuring appropriate standards of health and safety in Irish workplaces is reflected in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, which came into operation on 1 September 2005. The Act replaced the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 and provides a modern legal framework to guarantee best international practice in regard to health and safety in Irish workplaces.

The Act also strikes an appropriate balance between imposing duties, encouraging better consultation at workplace level on occupational safety and health matters, and providing for an improved focus on better prevention systems.

The following statistics for workplace accidents are based on the number of occupational injuries claims, OIB, accepted in the Department of Social and Family Affairs.