Will the Minister take steps to bring this scheme to the attention of the private sector area and point out to them how useful it could be? It is important that it should be pointed out to them that this scheme is Government encouraged and that it would be useful to the economy if they availed of it.

There may be slight confusion here. The Deputy seems to be referring more to the staff exchange scheme. The question relates to people taking a career break for whatever reason. Some have gone into private sector employment, pursued further education, travelled or assumed domestic responsibilities. Job sharing allows people to work within the Civil Service and, hopefully in the future in the public service, on a half time shared basis. There is also a separate exchange scheme which the Deputy may be interested in and which we are anxious to encourage.