asked the Minister for Labour (a) if the Employment Action Team have as yet formulated any proposals for action in regard to employment; (b) if so, if he will state these proposals; (c) the number of persons who are now in employment directly attributable to the activity of the Employment Action Team; and (d) the kinds of employment in which such persons, if any, are engaged.

The Employment Action Team submitted their first set of proposals to me some time ago. The team made five proposals as follows: Community fitness programme; Work experience programme; Environmental improvement schemes programme; Apprentice recruitment by the local authorities; Employment of young people on the survey work.

These proposals with the exception of that for a community fitness programme which is still being studied by the Minister for Health, have been approved in principle by the Government, and arrangements are being made to implement them.

The Minister for the Environment has already announced his proposals for the implementation of the environmental improvement schemes programme which will be undertaken by local authorities. Details of the programme, which have been prepared in consultation with my Department, will be notified to local authorities within the next few days.

Regarding the scheme for the recruitment by local authorities of additional first-year construction industry apprentices the Minister for the Environment has finalised details concerning the funding of the scheme. Detailed arrangements for implementing the scheme will be notified to the local authorities shortly.

I want to pursue this important matter by way of a few questions. The question I put down asked about numbers and the Minister's reply does not give any such information. Can the Minister tell us how many jobs are envisaged in the five categories of work which he has mentioned and how many people are now at work in these five categories?

The team were set up specifically for the purpose of creating schemes for youth employment. I have outlined the different schemes. The budget proposals implement most of them. The overall numbers covered by the scheme are approximately 4,000, and naturally certain arrangements had to be made before the schemes could be introduced.

Though I appreciate all that, it is six months since the team first met. They have a dynamic sounding title and had a very high profile during the election and in the manifesto which put the Minister where he is. Can he tell the House how many persons six months later are at work drawing a weekly wage in consequence of the work of this action team?

I have outlined the position. The Deputy expressed disappointment. My disappointment is that during his time as a member of the Government he did not see his way to laying the foundations so that we could have done this immediately.

I have asked the Minister twice how many people are at work as a result of the setting up of this Employment Action Team and I still have not heard. I know the projected number is 4,000 but I want to know how many are at work in consequence of the team's operations.

I have explained in detail to the Deputy the present position of the schemes. Indicative of our commitment as a new Government was the setting up of this action team which I regard as a major step forward. The team consist of employer and trade union interests, youth interests and Government Departments. They had to examine the situation and they reported to me before Christmas the result of that examination of certain schemes. Most of those required Government approval. In addition, finance had to be provided. It was provided in Fianna Fáil's first budget. As the Deputy can see, no delay has taken place since then. There was the announcement in recent days by the Minister for the Environment of a scheme the details of which are due to go out to the local authorities. An appalling situation obtained in the intake of apprentices by the local authorities prior to the investigation by the team.

Does all that flummery boil down to this, that there is not one person at work as a result of this team's operations?

I have said that the structure is there for the provision of these jobs and money has been provided.

Not one job except that of a full-time secretary. Is it not a fact that there has been a resignation from the team?

That is a separate question but I will answer it if the Chair allows me.

The Minister may not answer it. I am calling the next question.

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