Gerry O'Sullivan
Question:52 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Labour if he has any plans to establish offices or divisions of the Labour Court or the Labour Relations Commission outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Decentralisation of Labour Court/Labour Relations Commission.
The number and distribution of Labour Court hearings and disputes dealt with by the Labour Relations Commission would not justify the establishment of a division of the court or the location of industrial relations officers of the LRC outside Dublin.
The Labour Court conducted 630 hearings during 1991, of which 438, 70% were held in Dublin and 192, 30%, were held in 22 other locations throughout the country, Industrial relations officers of the Labour Relations Commission dealt with 1,880 disputes in 1991 of which 921, 49%, were in Dublin, 279, 15%, in the rest of Leinster, 469, 25%, in Munster and 211, 11%, between Connaught and Ulster.
The fact that divisions of the Labour Court and industrial relations officers of the Labour Relations Commission are based in Dublin does not in any way impede either body in dealing with disputes outside Dublin. In my view, both bodies provide important services in a cost efficient and effective manner. I should point out that any decentralisation of either body would only increase costs and would reduce flexibility in responding to cases. In addition, the centralisation of services facilities coordination and exchanges of views within the court and the commission and uniformity in their dealings with industrial relations matters.