I am a member of a COMTEC and I am wondering whether the Minister is satisfied with the work being done by the other agencies in the provision of premises and so on?

I am not in a position to give a frank answer to that since we are not long enough into the field to have made an evaluation. I should welcome a discussion in the House at some appropriate time so that we may ascertain how the projects are proceeding. The idea was put forward as a way of overcoming the duplication that all of us condemned but it remains to be seen whether the scheme is effective. I would be interested in hearing details of the Deputy's experience so far.

They are having their second meeting today.

That is the point. This is only the second meeting.

Do the COMTEC committees cover all the State agencies involved in this area? I have been putting forward the argument that for the scheme to be successful the COMTECs should be given a defined area with all the State agencies working together to tackle the unemployment problem in that area. Otherwise, we will continue to have duplication. Is this procedure being adopted in the matter of the pilot projects?

My understanding is that the COMTECs were set up specifically for that purpose and involve formal representation of all the relevant State agencies involved directly in the creation of employment or in training in that area.