asked the Minister for Labour if, given the findings of recent studies on Irish manpower policy, he believes the National Manpower Service should have as its primary function the provision of opportunities for long-term unemployed; and if this assignment would alter the character and administration of schemes aimed at disadvantaged groups in the labour force i.e. work experience training projects; employment incentive scheme.

The National Manpower Service were established in 1971 with the general objective of assisting in the placement of all job seekers but have more recently become heavily involved in administering a number of schemes to raise the demand for labour.

The National Manpower Service are conscious of the special problems of the long-term unemployed and some schemes are directly targeted on them. For example, they benefit from the specific provision in the employment incentive scheme providing for payment of a higher premium to employers who take on persons who are over 25 and who are on the live register for more than six months. The long-term unemployed under 25 years of age also benefit from the general rule giving priority to those over six months unemployed in submissions for schemes funded from the youth employment levy.

I accept that the NMS must give increasing attention to the long-term unemployed. While I am not convinced that the provision of opportunities for this category should be the service's primary function, this is an issue which I am examining in my current review of the objectives and programmes of the various manpower agencies.

In the light of the Williams Report which indicated that some of the schemes, particularly those for the longer-term unemployed, were getting less than the full heart of the various agencies administering them, would the Minister not consider that they should be focused in some single agency which would have as their prime target the providing of a service for the unemployed?

Yes. It would seem that that body currently is the National Manpower Service. The question is whether this should be their primary function. I do not agree that it should be their primary function.

What are the qualifications of the officers in the small rural offices of the National Manpower Service? Is there any special training for those personnel to enable them to do the work they are supposed to do under the Act?

I do not have notice of that question but I will answer it if the Deputy puts down a question.

What does the Minister see as the primary function of the National Manpower Service?

That question is not on the Order Paper but the primary function of the National Manpower Service when first established was as a placement and hiring service in the employment field.

That is the sort of question that gets us into discussion on policy.