Vol. 576 No. 1
142 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the numbers employed in the labour inspectorate of her Department since 1 January 2000; if there are currently unfilled posts in the inspectorate; her proposals to increase the personnel and resources, especially having regard to the additional workload it now faces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28994/03]
In 2000, the Government authorised a significant increase in the number of labour inspectors, from ten to 17, in conjunction with the introduction of the National Minimum Wage Act in that year. The current complement of inspectors remains at 17. However, from time to time, that figure can fluctuate as a consequence of events such as promotions or transfers.
At present, there are 16 officers, including two job sharers, actively assigned to the labour inspectorate, covering 15 posts, for the purposes of carrying out the functions of labour inspector. An interview process has recently been completed to identify suitable officers to take up the outstanding two posts. It is anticipated that those additional officers will be assigned, and will take up their new positions, before year end.
In 2001, as part of a continuing process to strengthen and modernise employment rights enforcement, a major business process re-engineering exercise took place in the employment rights section of my Department, including the labour inspectorate. The business process review looked across the support activities to the labour inspectorate in the area of employment rights enforcement. In the employment rights information unit, enhanced customer service standards, including lunchtime opening, were introduced and in the prosecution and enforcement units procedures and linkages with the Chief State Solicitor's office were improved. In addition, a new fully integrated IT system to support the employment rights enforcement effort was launched in mid-June 2003 at a cost of €900,000.
