asked the Minister for Labour if the amalgamation of the YEA, AnCO and NMS into FÁS will give rise to any redundancies in any of the organisations mentioned; if so, the number; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Establishment of FÁS.
8.
I have only recently named the board designate of FÁS which is currently meeting informally to undertake preparatory planning to take on its responsibilities. The members will take up their appointments on 1 January 1988 the establishment day for FÁS.
A major task facing the FÁS Board will be to carry through the integration of the services provided by the three existing organisations. It is much too early to take decisions about the eventual staffing requirements of FÁS in 1988.
In view of the fact that there has been a reduction in the allocation to FÁS this year of £4.22 million, and the fact that FÁS was not in existence last year, although provision was made for FÁS in the Estimate — the sum of £52.142 million for training purposes was reduced to £48.702 million and there was a reduction for administration from £6.651 million to £5.870 million — I would like to know the likely effects on the number of places which will be available, the cutbacks in stock and the people who run the courses.
We have already spread the money we have across a range of courses and, with a few exceptions, we will be able to maintain the man years in 1988 which we had in 1987. I highlighted the areas where there are difficulties. In relation to staffing, I hope the amalgamation of the three semi-State bodies will generate a sufficient amount of work for the staff and that there will be adequate resources to keep all staff members more than busy. I would like to stick to that policy decision and I hope I will not have to change it.
The Minister did not answer my question. Since there has been a reduction of over £4 million, I fail to see how he can provide for the needs of this new organisation. It is extraordinary that more money was provided for this organisation before it was established than has been provided for its first year in operation.
There is a certain amount of tidying up and rationalisation of schemes——
Even before the organisation started?
My predecessor started that scheme. The Deputy's question asked if the amalgamation of the YEA, AnCO and NMS into FÁS will give rise to any redundancies in any of those organisations. My reply is that there are no redundancies proposed. As regards the other matter the Deputy raised, it will be possible to maintain the man years, except for schemes which were abolished, such as the work experience programme, which will not exist next year, as well as a number of other schemes. As I have already outlined in this House on two occasions and during Question Time, the man years in 1988 will be similar to those in 1987.
Can the Minister give me an assurance that there will be no redundancies in these organisations?
I did not raise the question of redundancies.
If there is a question of redundancies, will they be voluntary?
I am hopeful there will not be any redundancies.
Will the Minister agree that one of the arguments advanced in favour of a merger was that there would be a more cost effective delivery of services and that the degree of triplication could be removed? Does he accept that if one agency can do what it previously took three agencies to do that fewer people should be employed in doing it?
That may well be so but the plan involved the amalgamation of three organisations but not to get rid of the staff. It was to be a cost effective, integrated body and it is my wish to regionalise it. If I could save 200 or 300 jobs by rationalisation I could allocate them to any area. Some 19 per cent of the population are unemployed and require the services of FÁS. A high proportion — a figure of 5,000 was mentioned but it could be much higher — leave school before reaching 18 years of age and the social guarantee advisory work could be extended to them. I want a more cost effective organisation to give better service to the public. I certainly do not want to make people redundant.
It seems a number of people will not be required to carry out the duties which they were previously carrying out——
That is correct.
To what extent has the Minister made progress on discussions about redeployment so that people will be in a position to take up other duties similar to those he has listed?
The Deputy is correct. Certainly there will be redeployment and the management and the board are extremely active in highlighting those areas where there is duplication. It is primarily a matter for the management and I have had almost daily meetings with them in that regard. I do not want to make a statement until the clear policies of FAS are announced after the designated date. It must be remembered that the board is an interim one.
Will the Minister confirm whether the Government's voluntary redundancy package has been offered to the people who were in the constituent organisations up to now — and still are — and whether the take-up on that has been taken into account in the overall budget for the new body?
The offer of voluntary redundancy has probably now gone to all State organisations but I want to make it clear that I am not trying to force anyone in FAS to avail of it. If people wish to apply they have the right to do so. However, it is quite traumatic for those with Civil Service status to be moved out of their Department into a new organisation. The same applies to the YEA and AnCO and they are all to be highly commended — unlike some other organisations — for working in such a co-operative way with the board and me. I do not wish to talk about unemployment at present. If people wish to go that is another matter.