asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the number of factory inspectors serving in his Department and whether it is intended to increase the number.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Factory Inspectors.
There are three posts of senior industrial inspector and 15 posts of industrial inspector in the factory inspection section of my Department. Two of the posts of industrial inspector are at present vacant and arrangements are practically complete for the holding of a competition to recruit candidates to fill the vacant posts. A further increase in the number of inspectors is not at present envisaged.
The services of general inspectors are now being utilised for certain inspections under the Industrial Relations Act and the Apprenticeship Act, hitherto performed by industrial inspectors. The total number of inspections this year, under these Acts and the Factory and Workshops Acts, shows a considerable increase on previous years.