Govt vows to improve building site safety

Junior Minister Tom Kitt has promised to introduce new safety regulations for construction sites in an effort to prevent further fatalities.

Mr Kitt said he is also planning to increase fines and penalties for building developers who breach safety standards.

However, the initiatives are merely on the Dail agenda for next year and it will be some time before they are introduced.

Minister Kitt’s promise comes after 500 construction workers downed tools today to march on government buildings following the death of a colleague on a building site in Dublin’s dockside last weekend.

He was the 13th person to die on building sites in Ireland so far this year.