Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

57. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the details of the regulations that are in place to deal with removal of asbestos; if it is envisaged that there will be assistance to help with the removal of asbestosis in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3968/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The remit of my Department, in relation to asbestos in the workplace, arises under occupational health and safety policy where the focus is on prevention. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 and 2010, which are enforced by the Health and Safety Authority, place obligations on employers and employees to ensure that the risk of exposure to asbestos is eliminated or reduced to a minimum and that any remaining residual risk is adequately controlled in accordance with the legislation. These Regulations are relevant to the matter of removal of asbestos.

In addition, national guidelines for the management and removal of asbestos-containing materials can be found on the website of the Health and Safety Authority ().

Asbestosis is a chronic (long-term) lung condition caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. The Regulations of 2006 and 2010 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work provide for the health surveillance of employees exposed to asbestos and for the maintenance of an occupational health register in relevant employments and for the maintenance by the Authority of an Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Register of diseases which have been reported to the Authority. The presence of asbestosis within the wider community is a public health matter. I am assured that patients suffering from asbestosis have access to the same range of diagnostic and treatment services provided in the public health system as other patients with chronic lung conditions. Accordingly, neither my Department nor the Authority has a role in relation to the removal of asbestosis in the community.