Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of workplace inspections carried out by the labour inspectorate to date in 2009; the way this compares with the same period in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27449/09]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) has carried out a total of 10,445 calls, visits and inspections up to the 26th of June 2009. This compares with 11,499 for the corresponding period in 2008. The number of actual inspections increased by 94 while the number of calls and interviews decreased by 688 and 460 respectively.

NERA conducted almost twice as many workplace inspections in 2008 when compared with 2007 - almost 28,000 workplace inspections in 2008 as against 14,500 in 2007. This increased level of inspection activity in 2008 and 2009 is reflective of the greater level of Inspection resources available to NERA, from the original level of 31 inspectors in 2007 to a current complement of 77 NERA inspectors.

Since it commenced operations on an interim basis in 2007, NERA has had considerable success in raising awareness of employment rights. Early in 2008, NERA undertook a nationwide information and awareness campaign, which has been instrumental in bringing about a much greater level of awareness both by employers and by employees of their respective rights and obligations under employment law. The information role has been enhanced through the inspection process. This information and awareness role continues to play a significant part in NERA's employment rights compliance and information strategy.