Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of labour inspectors employed by the National Employment Rights Authority; 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [44912/08]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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NERA currently has in place a team of 80 Inspectors following recruitment competitions for an additional fifty-nine Inspectors to bring the number of Inspectors from the original level of 31 up to the level of 90 committed to under Towards 2016. Fifty-nine inspectors were assigned to NERA from these competitions. All NERA inspectors were recruited by way of competitive procedures, including internal competition within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and a trawl of other Government Departments, and a number of specialist language inspectors were recruited by the Public Appointments Service.

All new inspectors have completed the NERA Inspection Services Introductory Training Programme and are currently undertaking further training, including on-the-job training with experienced inspectors. This involves working with experienced Inspectors in carrying out inspections and other associated enquiries at places of work with a view to determining compliance with certain employment rights legislation.

Ten Inspectors have left NERA over the past year as a result of promotion or internal and external Departmental transfers and re-assignments. As a result, the total number of NERA Inspectors currently stands at eighty. A competitive selection process was held very recently to form a panel of people who will fill current and future Inspector vacancies as they arise. The results of this competitive process will be announced shortly.