Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a report on the prevalence of MRSA in private nursing homes, geriatric institutions and public hospitals for older people has been carried out by the Health and Safety Authority; the findings of same and the actions taken by his Department as a result; if such reports and advice received on same will be published in full; if such reports have been given to the Health Service Executive or Department of Health and Children or any other Department or agency; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3401/06]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Parliamentary Question No. 293 of 25 January 2006, if his Department has received complaints regarding the prevalence of MRSA in private nursing homes, geriatric hospitals or other institutions caring for the elderly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3402/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together.

The role of the Health and Safety Authority under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 relates to the protection of workers in all sectors. I am advised by the Health and Safety Authority that no report on the prevalence of MRSA in private nursing homes, geriatric institutions and public hospitals for older people has been produced or is contemplated. However, in line with its programme of work for 2006, the authority is continuing work relating to the potential exposure of workers in hospitals to biohazards that might adversely affect their safety, health or welfare.

In this regard, the authority is focusing on the existence and implementation of comprehensive infection control policies as part of the overall safety management system of workplaces where there may be a risk of workers' exposure to biological agents. Such infection control policies must take account of all biological agents that may be present and, in particular, focus on those organisms that are of primary concern, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, legionella, hepatitis B, HIV, mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB, and streptococcus pyrogenes.

I am also advised by the Health and Safety Authority that, as part of this work, it recently requested the Health Service Executive to identify those hospitals, if any, under the control of the executive that are not in possession of a written site-specific risk assessment for exposure to biological agents at work and the associated safety management system, including prevention and control measures. Any hospitals that are so identified will be subject to inspection by the authority's inspectorate and, where necessary, consideration will be given to appropriate enforcement action. In hospitals that the Health Service Executive considers compliant, a sample will also be subject to inspection in line with the authority's policy of dealing with this prioritised area.

With regard to the question of complaints regarding the prevalence of MRSA in private nursing homes, geriatric hospitals or other institutions caring for the elderly, the Department has no record of such complaints. However, the Health and Safety Authority has received correspondence relating to hospital patients and MRSA but the matters raised do not fall within the role of the authority in relation to those who are not at work on the basis that there must be a clear, direct and explicit connection between a current work activity and its effect on persons other than workers before the authority gets involved.