Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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356. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the workplace relations bodies, by county, in each month in 2014 and in 2015 to date; the number of prosecutions undertaken in each county during that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28566/15]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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357. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspection staff attached to the Workplace Relations Bodies in 2014 and to date in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28567/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 357 together.

The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is responsible for enforcing minimum statutory employment rights entitlements in the State and in undertaking its role, carries out a range of functions, including inspections of places of employment and employment related records.

These inspections arise:

- In response to complaints received of alleged non-compliance with relevant employment rights legislation;

- As part of NERA inspections focusing on compliance in sectors where there is an identifiable risk of non-compliance and,

- As routine inspections, which act as a control measure.

NERA aims to achieve voluntary compliance with employment law through the provision of education and awareness, inspection of employers’ employment records and enforcement where necessary. While every effort is made to secure compliance, some employers either refuse or fail to rectify the breaches identified and/or pay money due to their employees. These employers are referred for prosecution.

The number of inspectors serving at 31^stDecember 2014 and at 9^thJuly 2015 with the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is 57. This includes one inspector who was assigned to duties within the Workplace Relations Reform Programme Office.

Details in relation to the number of inspections and prosecutions undertaken in each county during 2014 and to end June 2015 are provided in the following tables (a monthly breakdown of the figures for inspections undertaken is not available):

Inspections

Prosecutions