Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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619. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 502 of 8 November 2016, if there has been any progress in relation to the need to have hearings before the Workplace Relations Commission held at local level in Cavan and Monaghan instead of imposing undue costs on persons travelling to Sligo and elsewhere for such hearings; if she will ensure that this issue is addressed as a matter of urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3063/17]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should note that the Workplace Relations Commission is an independent statutory body and I have no direct involvement in its day to day operations.

However, I am informed that the position remains that the WRC is working in conjunction with the Office of Public Works to identify offices/venues for possible use for hearing venues. As already outlined, financial investment has been made in a hearing room the WRC Offices in Sligo and currently it continues to be the most appropriate venue for hearings in the region. 

This of course may change in the context of developments in other venues on a regional structure and having regard to other related factors such as case volume in different regions, development costs, adjudicator location, and transport links.  It must be recalled that the rationalization of hearing venues across the country was an important part of the overall reform agenda. 

It must also be borne in mind that the WRC is still in the bedding-down phase.  I am informed that a review of venues for regional hearing will take place during 2017 and decisions in relation to this matter going forward will be made based on experience gleaned over the first phase of operation taking into account the volume of claims in different locations, costs, availability of adjudicators in proximity to hearing venues etc.