Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 146: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour inspectors employed by the labour inspectorate of his Department; the number of labour inspectors available for assignment on normal duties; the number of labour inspectors in training following recruitment; the status of the recruitment campaign to increase the labour inspectorate to 90 inspectors; if all 59 additional labour inspectors will be employed by the second quarter of 2007, as indicated in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 15 November 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2530/07]

Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 154: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the new positions in the labour inspectorate announced in November 2006 will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2600/07]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 168: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the recruitment of the labour inspectors; if interviews have taken place; the location of regional offices; when this process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2572/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 154 and 168 together.

As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 15 November 2006, the number of Labour Inspectors will be progressively increased from 31 at present to 90 by end-2007 with the expectation that assignments will be made from the second quarter of 2007. The necessary arrangements and selection processes to meet this objective are being progressed at present. Intensive and detailed training will be delivered to new inspectors both on assignment and following initial work experience.

The Labour Inspectorate will be subsumed into the new National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), which is being established at present. The Authority's headquarters will be based in Carlow while it will also have a presence in Dublin and other regions as part of the regionalised structure proposed for the Authority.

Proposals in relation to the regionalisation of the Labour Inspectorate have now been finalised in consultation with the Director designate of the new Office, Ger Deering, and I will announce the details in this regard shortly.

The regionalisation of NERA, which is a priority commitment on the Government's behalf under Towards 2016, the Social Partnership Agreement, will have a positive impact in terms of creating an immediate presence within the regions, improving communications with our customers and generating public awareness of employment rights and obligations generally.