Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 35: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to reduce waiting times for hearings at the Employment Appeals Tribunal ; if he has had any request for additional personnel or resources from the Tribunal; if these requests have been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8331/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Employment Appeals Tribunal is an independent body under the aegis of the Department. As an independent body, I have no role in relation to the day-to-day operation of the Tribunal.

I understand that the Tribunal has been taking steps to reduce waiting times, including targeting areas of the country where the waiting time is longest. For example, as the longest waiting period with the highest numbers of cases on hand were in County Cork, the Tribunal increased its sittings from one to two divisions in November and December last year. As a result the number of cases awaiting hearing was reduced from 177 to 94 and consequently the waiting period was reduced from 61 weeks to 30 weeks. I understand the Tribunal will continue to target other areas of the country with particular regard to the volume of cases on hand.

The Government undertook in the Social Partnership Agreement, "Towards 2016" to increase the staffing resources of the Tribunal. The commitment is for an increase of 8 staff. To date 5 extra staff have been deployed. I expect that these extra staff will enable the Tribunal to substantially reduce the waiting time for a hearing.

The Tribunal Chairperson has drawn attention at meetings with the Department to the need for full staff resources. I am pleased to say that the Department will be in a position to assign the remaining 3 staff to the Tribunal in the near future, which will address the resources issue.