Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour inspectors currently employed by or on behalf of his Department; the number of cases investigated by these inspectors in each year from 2002 to present; the average time from a case file being opened to a satisfactory resolution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18200/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Since November 2005 the number of Labour Inspectors assigned and serving has been increased to thirty-one officers.

The numbers of workplace inspections/visits undertaken by the Labour Inspectorate in respect of the years 2002 to 2005 and to date in 2006 are set out in the tabular statement below.

The average time from a case file being opened to a satisfactory resolution during the period 2002 to 2006 is not available. On foot of the Deputy's question an officer undertook a survey of all cases since January, 2004. Arising from this survey, the average duration of cases opened since January 2004 was approximately two and a half months. It should be noted that the duration of case files varies widely in that some cases reach a satisfactory outcome within a few days and the more complex cases may require several visits and possible prosecution in Court, which can extend for several months.