asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the consequences of the withdrawal of the employment maintenance scheme which will have a damaging effect on employment in the tanning industry, particularly in relation to the Irish Leather Company employment level and its factories in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

13.

asked the Minister for Labour if he will introduce a subsidy to compensate for the withdrawal of the employment maintenance scheme and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

The Government's employment maintenance scheme under which official assistance was provided for the textiles, clothing and footwear, including tanning, industries terminated on 31 March 1980 in accordance with the terms of our agreement with the Commission of the European Communities. Employer and industry organisations and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have agreed under the provisions of the national understanding to finance a new temporary scheme of assistance for firms in place of the employment maintenance scheme. The new scheme—the employers' temporary subvention—will operate from April until the end of December. Under the terms of the scheme a subsidy payment of £5 per week will be made to firms for a period not exceeding 26 weeks and a payment of £4 per person for the following 13 weeks. The scheme is being operated by a steering committee of employer and congress representatives, and the Department of Labour are acting as agent for the committee. Firms employing more than 100 persons must submit development plans as a condition of qualifying for the full benefits of the scheme.