andMr. Donnellan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the staff of the Office of Public Works has been augmented to cope with the extra arterial drainage activity arising from EEC aid, pursuant to the assessment referred to in his reply to Question No. 28 of 27 June 1978.

An increase in the number of engineering posts in the Office of Public Works at various grades was authorised in July 1978 to cope with additional marine work projects and extra schemes under the arterial drainage programme including schemes being assisted by financial contributions from the EEC.

Recruitment of the staff to fill these posts and the normal vacancies arising from resignations and retirements has, however, proved to be slow. This has arisen mainly from the rather low level of salary of engineers in the civil service. In addition the prolonged postal strike interfered with the clearance of candidates from the most recent civil service competition and delayed the holding of a further competition which was planned. Recent indications are, however, encouraging. Staff negotiations with the Department of the Public Service in regard to revision of salaries are at a fairly advanced stage and the current year's final engineering students have responded well to an invitation to be considered for temporary posts in the Office of Public Works pending the holding of a Civil Service Commission competition.

Is the Minister aware that engineers who were working on preliminary work regarding the arterial drainage of the Note had to be withdrawn because there were not sufficient engineers to carry out the work on the Bonnet and on other rivers in the west? Would the Minister agree that because of the lack of engineers, the only effect of the EEC aid is to ensure that we remove drainage resources from one part of the country to another but without there being any net increase in the level of activity?

That is what I have said in my reply, but we are trying to rectify this problem of engineering staff. The Deputy is aware, too, that the building industry is booming now and engineers are being attracted to that sphere.

Is it not the position that engineers who start in the Board of Works leave after two or three years to take up more lucrative employment?

That is so.

Since the Minister has mentioned the lack of remuneration as being the cause of the staffing problem, can he say what steps are being taken to raise the level of remuneration and when he expects any such step might be brought to fruition?

That is a matter that is being considered by the Department of the Public Service.

When may we expect a decision?

Soon.