Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the workplace relations bodies in each month in 2014, and to date in 2015, by county; the number of prosecutions undertaken in each county during that time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34693/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was established on 1 October 2015.Part of its functions comprises visiting employment premises and inspecting employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights legislation.

These inspections arise

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

- As part of compliance campaigns which focus on compliance in a specific sector or a specific piece of legislation, or

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

The WRC 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.

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

Inspections

Prosecutions