§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland have taken steps to manage asbestos by(a) undertaking a survey of all premises, (b) compiling a register indicating where asbestos is present and (c) preparing a plan for managing any associated risks [154158]
§ Jane KennedyI understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that all five Boards are currently undertaking surveys of all premises to determine the location and condition of material likely to contain asbestos. As these surveys are completed, the Boards are compiling registers that record the location and condition of asbestos. Four Boards have completed asbestos management plans, while the fifth Board (Belfast) intends to complete its plan by the end of February 2004.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) schools and (b) premises used by school children are assessed as properties with a (i) low, (ii) medium and (iii) high risk of asbestos having been used. [154159]
§ Jane KennedyEducation and Library Boards are currently engaged in surveys of all schools and Board premises. The surveys should all be completed by May 2004 at which stage the information requested would be available.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to train maintenance staff in the(a) management, (b) surveying and (c) sampling of asbestos in Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland. [154160]
§ Jane KennedyI understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that all relevant maintenance staff have received training in the management, surveying and sampling of asbestos. The training has consisted of the following standard modules provided by the British Occupational Hygiene Society
(1) P402—Building Surveys and Bulk Sampling for Asbestos(2) P405—Managing Asbestos in Buildings.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what work each Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland has carried out to inform schools in their area of procedures to safeguard children, staff and members of the public in relation to asbestos in schools and other board properties [154161]
§ Jane KennedyAll Education and Library Boards are organising awareness training for relevant staff at schools and other board properties aimed at providing them with sufficient knowledge to assist safely in asbestos management. This training is expected to be completed by all boards by May 2004. Asbestos management plans, which include details of the procedures to be followed in the management of asbestos, will be provided to schools and other board properties. Registers are also being drawn up as boards complete surveys of properties, which will include details of the location and condition of any asbestos. Individual properties will be provided with a copy of the register relevant to them
155W
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many asbestos leaks occurred in buildings owned by each of the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland in each year since records were kept; and where these leaks occurred.[154162]
§ Jane KennedyI understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that only the South Eastern Education and Library Board has recorded an asbestos leak. This was at the Board's Headquarters in 2002 when elevated fibre counts were detected as part of a routine monitoring programme during an asbestos removal project. In addition to this leak, the South Eastern Board has recorded five occasions involving disturbances of asbestos during the carrying out of maintenance work. These are:
Education center 1992 Braniel Primary School 1999 Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre 2000 Board Headquarters 2001 Castlewellan Library 2003 Ardnabannon Outdoor Education
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland have in place(a) an Asbestos Register and (b) an Asbestos Management Plan. [154414]
§ Jane KennedyI understand from the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that all Boards are currently compiling asbestos registers as they complete surveys of premises. Four Boards have completed Asbestos Management Plans and the fifth (Belfast) intends to have its plan completed by the end of February 2004.
§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to ensure that there is a recognised procedure in place to minimise the risk of exposure to asbestos in(a) schools and (b) premises used by schoolchildren in Northern Ireland. [154415]
§ Jane KennedyThe Department of Education has issued guidance to all schools and education authorities on asbestos management and the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. The Department has provided funding to enable the Education and Library Boards to survey all schools in Northern Ireland, including controlled, maintained, Voluntary Grammar, Grant Maintained Integrated Schools and any other relevant Board premises, to determine the location and condition of asbestos. The Asbestos Management Plans, which are currently being finalised, will outline the processes and actions required to contain and manage any risk from asbestos, where it has been detected. Education and Library Boards have also provided professional training to technical staff and will be organising awareness training for all relevant non-technical staff.