John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to instances where engineering projects being undertaken by local authorities have been delayed due to requirements identified by the Health and Safety Authority; the extent of the increased activity of the HSA in relation to local authorities in 2006 compared to previous years; if this increased activity has resulted from known health and safety deficiencies by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37196/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Health and Safety Authority had a concentrated inspection campaign during the September 2005 Construction Safety Campaign. The campaign focused on health and safety issues within Local Authorities and, in particular, on roadworks. It was divided in two distinct focus areas, namely, site inspections and senior manager meetings. The site inspections focused primarily on roadwork activities, whereas the meetings with the senior managers within Local Authorities focused on their safety management systems and policies for all construction related activities.

The Health and Safety Authority prepared a report on the campaign detailing the findings and recommendations which was circulated to all Local Authorities. Subsequently, in 2006, the Health and Safety Authority has held Seminars for City and County Managers and are supporting the Local Authorities.

I understand from the Authority that following on from the campaign the County and City Managers, supported by the Local Government Management Services Board, have made strong commitments to ensure that a robust health and safety management system is put in place and are working with the Health and Safety Authority to this end. The Authority, through its 2006 Programme of Work has identified construction/civil engineering work as being an area of activity which needed to be prioritised, due to the high risk of injury associated with the activity. In that context, Local Authorities, being duty holders under the Construction Regulations, are required to comply with the provisions of legislation, in particular the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Construction Regulations 2001, replaced since 6 November 2006 by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2006.

The Authority's inspectors have been endeavouring to promote the putting in place by employers of a management system for occupational health and safety which would ensure that adequate plans are in place for such construction activities. Inspectors use their enforcement powers under the legislation as necessary and have taken a particular interest in unfinished projects which have left signage, temporary surfaces etc. in place for lengthy periods.

The Authority is of the view that all projects should conform to the law and that as Local Authorities are to the forefront in terms of the scale and complexity of their projects there is a particular onus on them to conform. In any event, the adoption of good occupational safety health management systems make good financial sense, and also the adoption of control measures to protect workers makes for good overall management. In some cases delays may be arising while safety management systems are being put in place, but as safety is paramount, the benefits of a good system will offset any inconvenience and cost of delays especially where these benefits result in the prevention of injury and loss of life.