Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 83: 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31141/07]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with commitments given under Towards 2016, the Social Partnership Agreement, the number of Inspectors is scheduled to increase to 90, from the starting position of 31, by the end of 2007.

Fifty-one Inspectors are currently assigned to the National Employment Rights Authority's Inspection Services. Twenty of these Inspectors were recruited in 2007 and have already undergone the core modules of the NERA Inspector training course. All fifty-one Inspectors are involved in carrying out inspections and other associated enquiries at places of work with a view to determining compliance with certain employment rights legislation.

The Public Appointments Service's recruitment and selection process for 10 Inspectors with specific language skills has now been completed while my Department's competitions for the remaining Inspector positions were completed yesterday (27th November 2007). It is expected that all 90 Inspector positions will be filled before the end of this year in line with the Towards 2016 target.