In relation to the employment element in this question, would the Minister accept that the public service has failed to meet its commitment under the 3 per cent quota scheme that was worked out in 1977? Would the Minister agree that the present figure of 1.3 persons employed in the public sector falls very far short of that agreed 3 per cent? Does he not think that the time has now come to make a fresh attempt within the public service to meet that target of 3 per cent, which was a very modest target, and that each department within the public service should look to themselves to meet the obligations already worked out in advance of any review body that the Minister has set up? Would the Minister have a word with the Departments in this respect?

I agree with the Deputy that every Department should make an effort to employ the 3 per cent. The guidelines which I have referred to are designed to encourage all enterprises in both the public and private sector to adopt a more positive policy towards the employment of handicapped persons and to provide them with advice and information for this purpose. The guidelines are in two parts: the first part sets out the elements which should go to make up company policy on the employment of handicapped persons and the second part gives guidelines and information to assist in the implementation of that policy.