asked the Minister for the Public Service the steps he has taken to reform the public service as outlined in the Fine Gael-Labour Programme for Government, December 1982.

: The Government are considering a number of specific proposals aimed at improving management in the public service, designed to secure better value for money and to capitalise on the technological opportunities available.

: Have any discussions been held with the staff unions and associations on the suggested steps?

: The proposals being considered cover both organisation and personnel and these will need detailed discussions with staff associations. That is self-evident.

: I asked whether discussions had been held.

: I am not aware what stage discussions have reached.

: I wish to have written replies to Questions Nos. 320 and 321 on today's Order Paper.

: It is not necessary to ask me for that. They can be got from the office.

: It is not 3.30 yet. Could we have another minute to consider——

: Nobody knows better than Deputy Faulkner that the Ceann Comhairle has not eyes in the back of his head and that a group of precedents say that he takes the time from the clock in front of him.

: Have they been updated?

: It is 3.30. Deputy De Rossa.

: On a point of order, we started late. The Government were not able to provide a quorum to begin Question Time in time. You gave an undertaking——

: I did not give an undertaking. The Deputy is misrepresenting the Chair.

: It is 3.30 and you said——

: The Chair said he would deal with that when he came to it. If the House wants unanamiously to extend Question Time the Chair will be prepared to facilitate the House.

: A former Ceann Comhairle of the House asked for one minute to consider a question.

: If the House wants to extend Question Time for five minutes this can be done. Otherwise Question Time is over.

: I wish to raise on the Adjournment the hardship which people in the Finglas area are experiencing due to the withdrawal of bus services after 7 p.m. I want to raise the matter with the Minister for Justice——

: I will communicate with Deputy De Rossa. I got his message.

: I wish to raise on the Adjournment a matter which I raised yesterday, the anomaly in school charges.

: I will communicate with the Deputy. There are several matters in order for the Adjournment. We would nearly have to have a prize draw.

: May I give notice of my intention to seek to raise on the Adjournment the unsatisfactory reply of the Minister of State in the Taoiseach's Department to Question No. 2 relating to the total number of people signing for unemployment. It now appears that the number of people signing for unemployment is in excess of 250,000.

: The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

: I expected a reply this afternoon which would have clarified the matter.

: I wish to seek permission to raise on the Adjournment the question of the release of confidential information by two Government Ministers to a Labour Party Deputy to secure his vote yesterday on the Social Welfare Bill.

: The Chair will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.