Written answers

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Department of Education and Skills

Education and Training Provision

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the resumption of Safe Pass courses will be facilitated now that construction has reopened in view of the fact the inability to facilitate new recruits into the sector will greatly hamper the re-opening and stifle job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8889/20]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when provision will be made for Safe Pass courses which have been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic for returning emigrants and new entrants to enable them become involved in construction work; if the course can be organised in a way that would respect social distance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9177/20]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if SOLAS will make provision for persons whose Safe Pass cards expired in February 2020 who may have not had an opportunity to renew cards due to booking lead-in time and whose cards are invalid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8514/20]

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take for workers that have an expired safe pass and are unable to return to work in sectors such as the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8923/20]

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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231. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when Safe Pass courses will resume in order that persons who wish to take up employment in industries that require a Safe Pass can do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8927/20]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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251. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the issuing of a temporary Safe Pass to those who have previously held a Safe Pass but is now out of date with the stipulation that they must undertake the course when they are up and running again in view of the fact that SOLAS does not have the legal authority to operate outside of the safety, health and welfare at work regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9041/20]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which new Safe Pass courses and or refresher courses will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9042/20]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when Safe Pass courses will begin again in view of the fact many persons cannot take up employment due to the expiry of the card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9324/20]

Photo of Martin HeydonMartin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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311. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when Safe Pass courses will recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9518/20]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 145, 176, 229, 231, 251, 252, 292 and 311 together.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, construction workers in Ireland are legally bound to hold a valid Safe Pass Registration Card to access construction site. The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation recently amended these regulations to extend the validity of Safe Pass cards with an expiration date after the 1st March 2020 until SOLAS Safe Pass training has restarted.

SOLAS has examined the potential for online delivery as a means of continuing national construction health and safety courses while adhering to public health measures. I am advised that no immediate solution has been identified that is equitable with the existing Safe Pass course delivery model, in being accessible to all eligible workers, provides real time course participants supports (literacy and numeracy) and interpreter services, as well as ensuring assessment integrity. As the training authority, SOLAS does not have the authority to issue temporary Safe Pass cards in the absence of associated education and training.

In terms of the delivery of face to face training, planning is well advanced to support delivery of Safe Pass training within health and social distancing guidelines once public health considerations provide for the return to training for this cohort of learners. The inclusion of the resumption of Safe Pass training in Phase 2 of the Government’s Roadmap is under consideration at the current time, particularly in the context of the adverse effect of non-availability of the training on safe access to construction sites for workers and on employment opportunities in the sector.

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