asked the Minister for Labour, in view of our very alarming unemployment situation, if he accepts that it is vital that the large number of centralised training and job-creating agencies must be overhauled to achieve decentralisation and a more effective exploitation within local communities of our limited resources; and if he will take steps within Government to further this aim.
Written Answers. - Manpower Policy.
638.
I propose to answer this question in respect of training and employment agencies which operate under the aegis of my Department.
There is already a large degree of decentralisation of training and employment services with AnCO, CERT and the National Manpower Service operating on a regional basis. Their regional operations have enabled them to respond specifically to local and community needs and the extensive use of community based programmes in recent years is clearly evident. These programmes include AnCO's community youth training programme, community training workshops and LINC; the COMTEC initiatives of the YEA; the social employment scheme administered by NMS; and the recently developed Team Work administered by my Department.
I am generally satisfied that given the commitment of the agencies involved to improving co-operation with other state services and local interests the need for decentralisation is being catered for adequately. The question of the administrative arrangements for implementing training and employment programmes wil however be considered in the broad context of the forthcoming White Paper on Manpower Policy.