Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of health safety studies he has initiated in the past five years; the subject matter of these studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27733/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Neither I, nor my predecessors, have initiated any health and safety studies related to the functions of the Department in the past five years.

Under the terms of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and subsequent regulations, the Department must ensure the safety, health and welfare of all staff in the workplace. The Department is committed to ensuring that appropriate measures and resources are in place to comply with the relevant statutory provisions, and that these are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis. A Safety Management structure outlining particular roles and responsibilities has been put in place, with overall responsibility in relation to health and safety being held by the Secretary General.

In line with best practice regarding health and safety, specific safety reviews, utilising in-house expertise and external expert advice, are carried out on a regular basis. These relate, in particular, to the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the National Monuments Service, and include reviews on the safe use of technical equipment, the conduct of survey work and inspections, and risk assessments. In addition, site-specific health and safety surveys have been completed in relation to various Departmental offices and properties and these are reviewed on a regular basis.