Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of farm safety inspectors employed; the number of farm safety inspections in each of the past three years and to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36266/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Health and Safety Authority’s staff complement is composed of both administration and inspector grades. The current inspector headcount in the Authority is 105, comprising of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors.

Inspectors operate across all of the Authority’s legislative mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals, and market surveillance of products. These inspectors may also be involved in either general inspection in sectors such as agriculture, specialist inspection or policy implementation at national, European and international level.

Inspections/investigations Agriculture Sector

Notwithstanding the need to re-prioritise inspection resources due to COVID-19, the Health and Safety Authority has continued to provide significant levels of advice and support to the agriculture sector. For example, a new Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (FSPAC) has been established. This group has just completed a new four-year plan to address occupational health and safety issues in farming, which will be published shortly.

The Health and Safety Authority will roll-out a proactive inspection programme in July to coincide with Farm Safety Week (19-23 July) which is an annual event lead by the Farm Safety Foundation and takes place across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. It also continues to carry out periodic campaigns targeting the farming sector.

I would add that, on foot of an additional 2021 budget allocation for the Health and Safety Authority, resources to carry out additional inspections are being recruited by the Health and Safety Authority which will enable it to undertake targeted actions, including inspections, across all sectors of the economy.