75 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of persons killed and injured in accidents on building sites during 1998 and the first three months of 1999; if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by trade unions regarding inadequate health and safety standards; the steps, if any, she is taking to ensure improved safety standards in the construction industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15825/99]

The Health and Safety Authority is the State body charged with responsibility for the administration, enforcement and promotion of all workplace health and safety legislation. I am informed by the authority that there were 22 fatalities in the construction sector in 1998, in addition to seven fatalities in other sectors from construction-related activities. Some 579 non-fatal construction-related accidents were reported to the authority in 1998. For the first three months of this year three fatal accidents and 117 non-fatal accidents in the construction sector were reported to the authority.