asked the Minister for Labour if FÁS have discussed with him proposals to reduce their staff numbers by one-fifth; the measures, if any, he is taking to ensure that the reduction in the number of FÁS staff will not lead to deterioration in the services offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

FÁS, which combines the three former agencies AnCO, YEA and the NMS, have a total staff of 2,363. As a result of the integration of the three agencies, the early retirement package has been offered to all employees of FÁS and to date 147 applications have been approved. The implementation of the package is a matter for management by FÁS.

Over the next two years there will, of course, be further reductions through natural wastage.

Early in 1988 I directed FÁS to adopt an extremely critical approach to all spending. This direction was given with a view to providing the best possible quality service to the greatest possible number of job seekers with limited resources. A number of steps have been taken by FÁS including curtailment of overheads and reallocation of staff from support functions to areas like the Jobsearch programme. I am confident that these changes, allied to the benefits of integration, will lead to a more cost effective service for the client.

Will the Minister tell the House the areas where job losses will occur? Will they occur in the training, administration or placement areas? Will the Minister indicate the attitude of the Department of Labour to the loss of staff in those areas?

In the amalgamation of any three agencies there is bound to be a certain amount of overlapping and duplication that can be rectified and, naturally, that will reduce the number of people employed. For instance, if there are three accountants there will not be a need for them when the amalgamation takes place. Staff have been moved from administration to work in direct training and employment activities, in particular the Jobsearch scheme. In addition, FÁS have undertaken an extensive regionalisation programme which will result in better use being made of the time of the officials involved. The purpose behind the reorganisation and rationalisation is to provide a better service, eliminate duplication, overlapping and the waste of human and financial resources.

I am aware of what arose following the amalgamation of the agencies but I should like an assurance from the Minister that there will not be a reduction in the number of personnel employed on training programmes. Will the Minister assure me that there will not be a reduction in the number of placement staff?

The intention is to have a more streamlined and efficient service. We want to deploy staff to the regional offices. The concentration will be on direct training and employment activities with practical emphasis on training schemes and the Jobsearch programme. I will bring the Deputy's views to the notice of the Minister for Labour and ask him to ensure that they are taken into account.

To what extent has the Minister for Labour been seeking to achieve a degree of flexibility within the organisation so that if vacancies occur in the area of direct provision of services people can be redeployed to that area from the administrative side?

My information is that there has been a general improvement in services, including the provision of a computer-based information service such as that installed in D'Olier House in Dublin. There will be more emphasis on self-service facilities, providing a better allround service for the people. Through the regionalisation programme people in local areas will be able to benefit from a much improved service.

The Minister's reply has dealt with the quality of the service but my question was more specific. As I understand it, the package is available across the board and my anxiety would be that if the package is taken up by those engaged in the provision of services, whether training or placement, it should be possible to redeploy people from other areas of the organisations to see to it that there is no disimprovement in quality of service but, in fact, an improvement while still achieving the objective of reducing the overall number.

The whole purpose of the exercise is to give an improved service to the public. In the day-to-day running of the organisation I am sure officials will be aware of the need to deal with the system as the Deputy has suggested.