andMr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment the number of redundancies notified in the building industry to date in 1980 and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The total number of proposed redundancies notified to the Minister for Labour by employers in the Building and Construction Industry Group, as qualified under the Redundancy Payment Acts, was 260 in the first quarter of 1980.

The level of redundancies in the first quarter compares favourably with the levels in the years 1978 and 1979 which were two good years for the industry. Measures taken by the Government should have the effect this year of consolidating most of the gains in output and employment in the industry since 1977.

The Minister must be aware that apart from the 260 notified to the Minister for Labour there must be at least as many more who would not normally be eligible for redundancy payment but who are out of work as a result of cutbacks in the building industry.

I am not so aware. I have not received any complaints on that matter.

Is the Minister saying that the abolition of reconstruction grants has had no effect whatever on the building industry?

There has been no effect. I took in a year's supply of grants and I am looking after them now. In any event, this does not arise on the question.

I know that the Minister has taken in a year's supply of grant applications. Unfortunately I am also painfully aware that he has not paid out a year's supply of grants. Will the Minister indicate precisely the measures the Government have taken to consolidate the levels of employment in the construction industry to which he referred?

That is a separate question. The question on the Order Paper only asked for information as to the number of redundancies.

The Minister stated he was making efforts to consolidate the position and the question now asked by Deputy Quinn is to state what measures are being taken. That is a legitimate question.

It is a separate question so far as the Chair is concerned.

It is a simple question but it appears there is not a simple answer to it.

I am satisfied with the level of building. The trend in new house grant applications for the first quarter shows an increase of 22 per cent on last year's figures. I have not received any complaints from the building industry.