asked the Taoiseach the number of items the Review and Monitoring Committee, provided for in the Programme for National Recovery, to be chaired by his Department, has met; the matters which have been considered by the committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Central Review Committee provided for under section VII of the Programme for National Recovery has met on three occasions since its establishment in December last.

The purpose of the committee, as set out in the programme, is "to review and monitor the progress in implementing the Programme and, in particular, the achievement of the targets and objectives of the Programme". The committee has noted progress on each of the specific measures contained in the Programme for National Recovery. It has dealt in detail with those items of concern to particular members of the committee.

Will the Taoiseach tell the House who the chairperson of the committee is? Have the committee reported to the Government or to any of the parties to the agreement, as provided for in that agreement?

The chairman is the Secretary of my Department. There are minutes of the meetings for the benefit of everybody concerned.

The agreement specifically provides that the committee will report to the Government and to the other parties to the agreement and I should like to know if it is intended that there should be regular reports or an annual report. What procedure is being adopted to adhere to that provision?

No decision has been taken as to the period that will be covered but it will be a reasonably long period, six months or 12 months, and in the meantime, as I explained, there are minutes of the meetings of the committee which are available to all the parties.

Is this just to monitor if targets and objectives are being achieved? Presumably, if they are, or are not, that will be reported to the other parties to the agreement.

Yes.

I should like to ask the Taoiseach if, in view of the undertaking in the Programme for National Recovery that the burden of financial adjustment would not fall on the disadvantaged in education, he, or any party to the central review committee, has raised the issue of vocational school cuts at meetings of that committee and, if so, what was the conclusion?

This is an extension of the question.

To the best of my knowledge that matter was not raised specifically at any of the meetings.

Does the Taoiseach anticipate that this matter, the increasing inequalities arising from changes in access particularly to vocational education, will be figuring on the next or future agendas?

That will be a matter for one of the parties to the agreement.

(Limerick East): I understand that the review committee can meet either in plenary session or that officials from the Taoiseach's Department can meet individual social partners.

Bilateral meetings.

(Limerick East): Were the three meetings that have taken place plenary meetings or bilateral meetings and if they were bilateral will the Taoiseach tell us what parties were involved?

There were two bilateral meetings as well as the three meetings to which I referred. Those were with farmers.

(Limerick East): And the topic was the imposition of PRSI on farmers and the self-employed?

I do not know. I would have to look at that.

(Limerick East): The Taoiseach should not be shy.