asked the Minister for the Public Service the present position on the implementation of the Aireacht system within the public service; if he is reviewing the validity of the system; and if he intends to extend it to all Departments.

The Government have decided to reorganise all line Departments of State, that is, all Departments with the exception of the four central Departments of the Taoiseach, Finance, Public Service and Economic Planning and Development, on the general lines involving an Aireacht and Executive Units recommended in the Report of the Public Services Organisation Review Group.

In the Departments of Health, Tourism and Transport, Industry, Commerce and Energy, Defence and the Environment, joint task forces from my Department and each of the Departments concerned were asked to recommend on the application of the concept on a trial basis. As a result, the concept is being applied on a trial basis in the Departments of Health and Transport and Power. The report of the task force in the former Department of Industry and Commerce was not accepted by the previous Minister for Industry and Commerce and a new task force is being constituted to update the report having regard to changes that have taken place since it was prepared. The task forces in the Departments of Defence and the Environment are expected to report during the current year.

As regards the other Departments it is intended that plans for reorganisation will be completed and that the new system will also be introduced as soon as possible.

It is, therefore, intended to extend the system to all Departments where it is appropriate. The Government accept the general validity of the concept which has been endorsed by the Public Service Advisory Council. This does not mean, however, that the review group's recommendations will be applied in every detail; any changes which are indicated as necessary in the practical application of the concept will be made. In this connection a study which is under way to review the system's effectiveness in the Department of Health will, I hope, result in the development of criteria for judging the effectiveness of administrative reforms generally.