asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the work carried out to date by the Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty; and what plans, if any, there are for the expansion of this programme.

I am informed by the National Committee on Pilot Schemes to Combat Poverty that it will publish, in the near future, a detailed progress report on its work to date. I trust that this report will provide the information sought by the Deputy.

With regard to the second part of the question, I intend to meet with members of the national committee to review the operation of its programme. I do not wish to make any statement concerning the future development of the programme in advance of this meeting.

Could the Minister give the number of staff employed?

Yes, I have that information somewhere. Perhaps I had better send it to the Deputy. Is the Deputy inquiring from the point of view of adequacy——

I should like to know the facts.

I think it is about 50. I shall get the information for the Deputy.

Would the Minister say if he is fully happy with the work of this body so far in all its aspects?

I am aware there are a lot of complaints about the activities of the committee. I propose to discuss these fully with the committee itself. In many cases the complaints arise from the fact that people are not quite clear on the exact purpose for which the committee was established.