asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the following details in relation to the funds provided under the Employment Guarantee Fund Act, 1980 (i) how they were allocated (ii) the firms who received benefits and (iii) the amounts in each case.

11.

asked the Minister for Finance the criteria used to establish eligibility for assistance from the Tripartite Committee; the names of the companies who have been approved for assistance from this fund and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and No. 11 together and to circulate a table for inclusion in the Official Report setting out the amounts allocated to date under the Employment Guarantee Fund Act, 1980.

The moneys provided under the Employment Guarantee Fund Act, 1980, are allocated by decision of the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment established under the terms of the National Understanding for Economic and Social Development. This committee grants assistance towards programmes or projects of its own choice, subject to the condition that these should result in the creation of additional employment which would not otherwise be achieved or the maintenance of employment which would otherwise be lost.

The sum committed to date from the Employment Guarantee Fund is £19.4 million approximately. However, some savings are expected on expenditures originally anticipated in respect of some of the programmes and projects being assisted by the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment, and it is estimated that approximately £2.25 million of the Employment Guarantee Fund is still available.

Following is the table:

Employment Guarantee Fund: allocations approved up to 9 June 1980 by the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment.

Note: The figures quoted above are for allocations approved. Payments to date amount to £1,565,854.

What is the reason for the savings?

There were savings in the Employment Incentive Scheme because some money was not fully taken up. The Deputy will appreciate that there is considerable variation in some cases between commitments and what is actually taken up.

The detail of this will be available?

Yes.

Question No. 12 has gone for written reply.