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Workplace Relations Commission

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2016

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Questions (629)

Niall Collins

Question:

629. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspections carried out by the workplace relations bodies on a county basis in each month in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016; the number of prosecutions undertaken in each county during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29538/16]

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Written answers

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body which was established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC has responsibility for information provision, workplace advice, mediation, conciliation, adjudication, inspection and enforcement in relation to employment rights, equality and equal status matters and industrial relations.

The WRC assumes the roles and functions previously carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), Equality Tribunal (ET), Labour Relations Commission (LRC), Rights Commissioners Service (RCS), and the first-instance (Complaints and Referrals) functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT).

Inspectors of the 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 WRC’s 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 in each county during 2014, 2015 and to end September 2016 are provided in the following tables (a monthly breakdown of the figures for inspections undertaken is not available).

Inspections concluded:

2016 (To 30 September)

2015

2014

CARLOW

23

71

53

CAVAN

74

134

137

CLARE

98

242

217

CORK

245

287

304

DONEGAL

95

184

153

DUBLIN

697

977

1,021

GALWAY

357

410

420

KERRY

81

51

59

KILDARE

139

246

316

KILKENNY

70

91

158

LAOIS

44

85

124

LEITRIM

24

24

23

LIMERICK

322

347

546

LONGFORD

51

76

73

LOUTH

130

182

121

MAYO

111

154

146

MEATH

83

143

120

MONAGHAN

60

77

82

OFFALY

51

91

57

ROSCOMMON

56

72

85

SLIGO

38

58

57

TIPPERARY

120

241

224

WATERFORD

173

166

115

WESTMEATH

70

133

153

WEXFORD

145

299

337

WICKLOW

214

344

490

TOTAL

3,571

5,185

5,591

Prosecutions (actual convictions secured):

2016 (To 30 September)

2015

2014

CARLOW

4

1

3

CAVAN

3

2

2

CLARE

1

3

1

CORK

2

7

1

DONEGAL

2

6

1

DUBLIN

5

13

24

GALWAY

1

5

3

KERRY

0

1

0

KILDARE

10

9

5

KILKENNY

0

5

6

LAOIS

2

2

1

LEITRIM

0

2

1

LIMERICK

2

4

3

LONGFORD

0

0

0

LOUTH

0

3

1

MAYO

0

0

1

MEATH

4

1

1

MONAGHAN

0

0

1

OFFALY

6

15

4

ROSCOMMON

1

0

1

SLIGO

0

2

0

TIPPERARY

6

5

6

WATERFORD

2

1

1

WESTMEATH

1

6

3

WEXFORD

5

6

6

WICKLOW

3

7

8

TOTAL

60

106

84

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