An investigation into the Turkish construction company accused of exploiting migrant workers has resulted in a significant drop in inspections of other companies.
The investigation into Gama Construction is also linked to a dramatic decline this year in prosecutions for breaches of the minimum wage and other employment laws.
New figures show that the labour inspectorate of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has carried out just 1,681 inspections to date this year.
This compares to 5,160 inspections in total last year, when the level of inspections was lower than usual due to the demands imposed by Ireland's presidency of the EU.
The number of inspections carried out in 2002 and 2003 was 8,323 and 7,168 respectively.
While 14 prosecutions were initiated by the inspectorate last year, 20 in 2003 and 25 in 2002, only three prosecutions have been set in train so far this year.
The figures were revealed in a written Dáil reply by Minister of State for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen to Labour TD Michael D Higgins. A spokeswoman for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said the decline in inspections was a consequence of the increased resources that had been devoted to a number of "high-profile cases".
It is understood these include Gama and Format Construction, a Polish company which, like Gama, denies underpaying migrant workers. The Gama Construction controversy, in particular, has taken up a significant amount of the inspectorate's time.
In a separate Dáil reply just published, Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin said three inspectors and two senior officials had been engaged full-time in the Gama investigation since it began in February.
He said some 14 inspectors were engaged in other ongoing investigations.
The department spokeswoman said four new inspectors were currently being trained and, with ten further new inspectors to be appointed, the rate of inspections would increase.
In an internal report completed earlier this year, labour inspectors warned the Government that they frequently operate in a "fire brigade fashion" as their regular caseload is deferred in favour of urgent cases.
