Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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178. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the workplace relations bodies in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018 and county, in tabular form; the number of prosecutions undertaken in each county during that period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7981/18]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Inspectors of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) carry out inspections of 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 specific sectors or specific pieces of legislation, or

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

The aim is 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 cases are referred for prosecution.

Details in relation to the number of inspections and prosecutions undertaken by county in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to end January 2018 are provided in the following tables.

Inspections

Prosecutions