asked the Minister for Agriculture whether there will be any redundancies in An Bord Bainne and Coras Beostoic agus Feola as a result of the increasing financial pressure on them which arises from the reduction in the real value of their subventions.

I understand that Coras Beostoic agus Feola recently decided to make two staff redundant at one of its offices on the Continent. Discussions are currently in progress between CBF and my Department on the State's grant to the board. An Board Bainne do not receive any State grant.

There has been a cut-back in real terms. Does the Minister now say that there will be no redundancies and that they will work to their full capacity? This whole area is vital to the agricultural and food processing industries.

I accept that the work of the CBF is vital to the marketing programme for our beef industry. There have been two redundancies in one office on the Continent but the amount of work in the marketing operations in that centre has not been affected by these redundancies.

Will the Minister agree that we should increase the number of people in the marketing sector as it is vital to our economy?

If the Deputy looks at the numbers of people employed in the CBF in recent years he will see that there has been a substantial increase in the numbers employed and in the number of offices opened in different centres on the Continent. We want to ensure that that will continue as far as possible and negotiations are in train with my Department on the question of present State assistance to them.

Is it correct that the Minister said that there was an increase in the last two years but that now we are beginning to cut back? Does the Minister agree that it is vital to expand that area instead of cutting back?

The redundancies which took place have not interfered with the general marketing programme of the CBF.

Does the Minister agree that we should expand the service?

We have already been doing that.

Question No. 11.