asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that the placement officer has been absent for the past two months at Mallow National Manpower office, County Cork; and if he will appoint a temporary officer until such time as the permanent officer resumes his duties.

: The Mallow office of the National Manpower Service has provided a service to job seekers and employers in the period about which the Deputy inquires. A placement officer from the Cork regional office attends at the Mallow office with sufficient frequency to ensure that job seekers who call to the office are registered and interviewed and, where possible, matched with vacancies notified to the office. As soon as the placement officer permanently assigned to the Mallow office resumes duty, a full-time service will again be available.

15.

asked the Minister for Labour the number of persons, indicating whether male or female under 25 and over 25 years of age, who have been recruited in the Mallow National Manpower administrative area, County Cork under the employment incentive scheme for each year since its inception in the following sectors: (1) manufacturing industry; (2) services; (3) agriculture/horticulture; and (4) construction.

: Statistics on the employment incentive scheme are not available on the basis of National Manpower Service offices. However, I propose to circulate a statement with the Official Report which gives the numbers of workers recruited under the scheme in County Cork in the industrial sectors indicated in each year since the inception of the scheme in 1977 up to and including 1982.

Figures for workers under 25 years of age are compiled on a national basis only. To assemble this information and that relating to the numbers of males and females at county level would involve examining every claim submitted since the inception of the scheme and the Deputy will appreciate that this amount of work would not be justified.

Following is the statement:

Number of persons recruited in sectors of industry under the Employment Incentive Scheme in County Cork during the period 1977 to 1982

When the scheme was first introduced in 1977 it applied to manufacturing industry and agriculture only.

In August 1977 it was extended to hotels and catering.

In September 1977 it was extended to services and construction.

: As the services and construction sections have been dropped from the scheme, will more places be available in the manufacturing, agriculture and horticultural sectors under the scheme?

: The amount of money which was in the Estimates when I came into office has been doubled and I hope that this will allow for more use of the two services which remain in the scheme.

: Will we see expansion in that area?

: I hope that there will be expansion in this area. It depends on the demand.

: The Minister has dropped the other two sections and surely extra moneys must be available which will be put into the work of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

: The problem was that money was not available to keep the existing scheme going. That is why it had to be adjusted back to its original size.

: That is not correct as I have told the Minister in the strongest manner possible.

: That is not in order. The Deputy will resume his seat.

: The statement by the Minister is absolutely untrue.

: The Deputy will resume his seat.

: I will if the Minister will tell the truth, and they have the information in their files.

: The Deputy knows well that £4.88 million which was put in the Estimate prepared by his Government for the full scheme was not sufficient to cover even two months of that scheme in the present year. A further £4 million was added to the money put in that Estimate of the previous Government in the new Estimates and that will allow the scheme under the present system of including agriculture and the manufacturing industry for the coming year to proceed. That is the factual situation.

: If the Minister claims today to know so much about the scheme, can he now give me the replies for which I asked him yesterday?

: We are on today's questions.

asked the Minister for Labour the number of persons, male and female, who have been recruited under the work experience programme in the Mallow National Manpower administrative area, County Cork for each year since the inception of the scheme.

: The numbers of males and females recruited under the work experience programme by the Mallow office of the National Manpower Service in the years 1978 to 1982 were as follows:

: Can the Minister give a breakdown on the trades, services and professions?

: That information was not requested and I have not got it.

: It is relevant to the question.

: If that information was not sought the Minister may not answer.

: Sir, you know from your experience in this House——

: It does not matter what the Chair knows.

: The Chair appears to be adopting a very arrogant attitude to the Members on this side which I will contest with my colleagues.

: The back-up to the question should be there and what I have asked is relevant to my question.

: The Chair has no control over the way questions are answered.

: That is ridiculous of the Chair.

: Deputy O'Keeffe will withdraw that allegation.

: OK, I will withdraw it.