andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to a statement by the Director General of the Confederation of Irish Industry (details supplied) that localised shortages of labour exist for toolmakers, electronic technicians, skilled clothing machinists and production engineers; and if he will state, in respect of each of these occupations, (a) the approximate number of vacancies, (b) the geographical area in which they exist, (c) the training required, where it may be obtained and the qualifications required prior to entry to training, (d) when he expects the skill shortage in question to be fully met, and (e) if AnCO or the National Manpower Service have taken any initiatives in the matter.

: I am aware of the statement referred to by the Deputies. A number of similar statements have been made in the recent past but it has been extremely difficult to get anything more than general statements which normally do not attempt to specify the areas of the country in which the shortages exist and the extent of such shortages.

My Department, through the National Manpower Service, have been in communication with the Confederation of Irish Industry on the subject and AnCo have also been in communication recently with the Confederation, the FUE, ICTU, CIF and the IDA in the matter with the object of identifying the shortages that may exist and taking any remedial action possible.

This question of skill shortages is a very important one and one which I propose to put on the agenda for an early meeting of the Manpower Consultative Committee for which I have already invited nominations from employer and worker organisations and on which AnCO, the NMS and the Department of Education will also be represented.

: Can the Minister tell us if any action has been taken to try to get from England, for instance, a return of skilled emigrants to take up the posts?

: I know that people who are looking for certain skilled workmen have been advertising for them in British newspapers.

: Has any action been taken by the Department of Labour to get these skilled workers and thereby to relieve any bottlenecks there may be?

: I am not in a position to say.