Would the Minister agree that the Youth Employment Agency in reviewing their co-ordination job do not have the power to force semi-State bodies to do anything? They may identify weaknesses but their ability to change them is questionable.

That is one of the reasons the co-ordination exercise is being undertaken. When the exercise is completed we will be in a position to respond to the points the Deputy is raising.

What does the Minister mean in saying that the Youth Employment Agency are to strengthen their co-ordination function? Would he enlarge on his comment that perhaps there was wasteful duplication in the past? Would he not agree that there is massive wastage in the duplication now taking place between the various agencies and that they are all falling down in trying to tackle the problem?

I said that the priority for the agency in 1984 would be to strengthen their co-ordination function.

What does that mean?

Literally what it states: to improve the co-ordination the YEA have had to date.

In what way?

In a variety of ways.

Could the Minister spell them out?

Perhaps the Deputy would allow me to reply to his question and respond to his concern. This is one of the reasons for the setting up by the Government of the co-ordinating group under the responsibility of the Minister of State. That report is almost finalised and discussions have taken place with all the bodies involved. We are hopeful that we will be in a position very soon to provide for a co-ordinated structure that will avoid some of the problems about which many Deputies have complained.

Would the Minister spell out exactly what those ways are? There is no evidence of them among the agencies, nor is there evidence of their being put before the Dáil, although they have been mentioned on a number of occasions. It is about time the Minister stopped being hazy and general and told us exactly what he was doing to end this duplication.

I have answered the Deputy's question. The co-ordinating of the various bodies, involving discussions on a democratic basis with such organisations, has taken place since the Minister of State, Deputy George Birmingham, was appointed in December. The report is being finalised and as soon as this is done we will be able to tell the Deputy what the Government decisions are.