Factfile: Food safety

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is an independent statutory, science-based body.

There are more than 36,000 food premises in the State. Some 95 per cent of these are monitored by the FSAI, 2 per cent by the Debarment of Agriculture, 2 per cent by the Department of the Marine and 1 per cent by the local authority veterinary office.

There are 46 permanent staff in the FSAI and a large number of personnel on contract, however the number of permanent staff is due to increase in the near future.

The current male/female staff ratio is 14:32. The FSAI is on the internet at www.fsai.ie