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CONCERN HAS BEEN raised in the Dáil that no compliance notices for errors in return-to-work rules have been issued by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) following some 800 Covid-19 inspections.
Among other things, they have to ensure strict adherence to social distancing, provide hand sanitiser, monitor their employees’ temperatures and create designated isolation areas for workers who might fall ill over the course of the working day.
Speaking today at the Oireachtas Special Covid-19 Committee, Labour TD Ged Nash expressed concern that no compliance notices have yet been issued as businesses reopen.
Secretary General of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Dr Orlaigh Quinn said that between various departments agencies, there are “500 plus” inspectors available to conduct checks.
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“We have also said if further inspectors resources are required we will look at that again. Each of the inspectors will be trained by the Health and Safety Authority and they will use the same standard approach and we will operate on that basis,” she said.
Asked by Nash how many Covid-19 return-to-work protoocol checks have so far been carried out, Quinn said it was in the region of 800.
Up to now, the Health and Safety Authority have done, I think my last figures was something like 1,100 or so inspections and of those 800-odd were specifically related to Covid.
“My understanding is they’re very satisfied with the level of compliance to date, and they have been very much working on the engagement side, training, all of the supports put in place to make sure that employers work. They’ve also been developing very specific guidance, as you know, part of the return-to-work protocol is there’s a worker representative, so they’ve been working very specifically on training for that person,” she said.
Labour TD Ged Nash. Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie
Sam Boal / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie
Nash however said the lack of compliance notices is a worry:
“So no compliance notices have been issued to date, because I know the Health and Safety Authority take a risk based approach to their inspections and work in a collaborative fashion with employers to try to ensure that all of the necessary protections are put in place. But I am a little concerned that at this point in time they haven’t felt the need to issue any compliance notice to any employers who may have erred. ”
The Louth TD also said that consideration should be classified as an occupational illness, such is the number of people contracting it in the workplace.
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@Sharp Elsi Mate: This housing is paid for by the Government, it’s just another way of delivering it and can be done cheaper than going through the Local Authority. Also the Local Authority doesn’t have the problems and costs associated with social housing such as maintenance, non payment of rent and anti social behaviour.
@Sharp Elsi Mate: If we were to wait around til the state looked for land and funding to build public social housing on, we will have a way bigger homeless issue to deal with…
The AHBs are providing a much needed ‘home for life’ service – some of these are built on private lands still own by Trusts; who claim a share of the rents to fund Charities, stakeholders and investors etc. While the rest of the rent goes to the upkeep and maintenance.
This is the future of social housing. Public owned land is getting scarce.
@James Gorman: WE DO. I’m under no illusion how these charities and agencies are funded my point was that we have a completely dysfunctional housing agency that cannot delivery all housing like a properly ran agency should. But thats ok James if you think you are getting good value out of those civil servants happy days come to think of it you probably are one of them.
With the completely dysfunctional and unsustainable nature of the current social housing system, I’m not surprised that local councils can’t and don’t deliever them directly.
@Shaner Mac: The local councils are delivering social units also ranging from new builds, part v, purchases and leases. The same with the voluntary housing bodies, the majority of the new units to this sector are funded and procured through the local councils. Most of the new units stated are owned by the LA and leased to the voluntary bodies. The two always work together to provide housing services.
Just imagine the state this country would be in without charity and volunteer involvement, they do it all, housing, mental health, cancer respite, suicide prevention to name a few. The governments over decades have failed us
Yes, the AHB’s are doing wonderful work throughout the country in providing homes to the most vulnerable.
The Peter McVerry Trust operates a wonderful scheme – now up and running in many counties – whereby owners of run-down unoccupied properties are assisted financially in bringing them back to life.
There’s a dribble of Income for the freehold owner initially until repair bill has been fully recovered; afterwards… almost full market rent for the region in question. PMT takes care of everything.
So for anyone wondering what to do with their recently inherited, bramble/ivy covered, right country located, fixer upper, talk to the folks at The Peter McVerry Trust.
Non profit should be the only way housing is provided. That we allow people to use housing they don’t need as an investment vehicle and exploit people in the process is one of the worst archaic paradigms of human civilisation.
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