Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the health and safety framework of each commercial and non-commercial State agency; when the health and safety policy of each was last reviewed; when the safety statement of each was last reviewed; if each body has a health and safety committee and when this was last elected; if each has a health and safety representative and when this person was last elected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29552/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There are no commercial agencies under the aegis of the Department. The non-commercial agencies under the aegis of the Department have a responsibility as employers, under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, to have a Safety Statement in place in the workplace. The Statement identifies potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provisions in place to safeguard the health and safety of employees. It should be reviewed on a regular basis.

The Act provides for consultation between employers and employees to help ensure co-operation to prevent accidents and ill-health. Under Section 25 of the Act, employees are entitled to select a Safety representative to represent them on health and safety matters in consultations with their employer. Section 26 sets out the arrangements for this consultation. Where a safety committee exists in a workplace, it can be used for this consultation process.

The information on Health and Safety frameworks sought by the Deputy is not required to be collected by the Department. However if the Deputy has an interest in a particular agency, officials will request the information to be forwarded to the Deputy. The list of agencies under the Department's aegis is available at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/.