Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on the concerns of staff in her Department of exposure to asbestos due to renovation works at the offices at High Road, Letterkenny, County Donegal. [7833/15]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures taken to ensure that workers at a social welfare office in Letterkenny, County Donegal, were protected, amidst concerns about asbestos in their place of work, following recent renovations; the tests that were carried out before workers were allowed to return to the affected offices; the results of these tests; if she will provide assurances that workers were not exposed to asbestos material, upon returning to work; if the offices are now completely free from asbestos material; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8210/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 216 together.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking works on behalf of DSP at Government Offices, High Road, Letterkenny. The works involve refurbishment to facilitate the introduction of an INTREO Office facility, a key element of the Government's Pathways to Work programme. The Office of Public Works and the Department of Social Protection staff are liaising with the main contractor and specialist sub-contractors to remove, contain and encapsulate low risk asbestos flooring material identified prior to and during the refurbishment works in the building, without posing any risk to our staff or our clients, in accordance with standard practice. The removal of asbestos will follow a strict ‘Method Statement’ that forms part of the Health and Safety procedures.

On 21/02/2015, some asbestos material was removed by a specialist company and a separate specialist company carried out 20 number reassurance air tests throughout the building. Tests were carried out on all floors in both the front and rear blocks and within the temporary prefabs. All of the air tests were negative for asbestos.

Based on clear air tests and the results of the material and dust samples, the offices can be re-occupied by staff. However in the light of staff concerns, staff are currently being accommodated in alternate accommodation in the Department’s Offices at Oliver Plunkett Road, and this is being kept under constant review. Prior to re-occupancy all areas will be tested again for further assurance that there is no risk to staff or clients.