asked the Minister for Labour, in respect of the specific directives given to FÁS to promote and establish worker co-operatives, the action that has been taken by that agency in 1988; the number of co-operatives which have been established as a direct result of their intervention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Worker Co-operatives.
23.
As provided for in the Programme for National Recovery, FÁS recently established a Co-operative Development Council representative of co-operative support organisations, the social partners and the Board of FÁS. The council's terms of reference are: to stimulate greater awareness about co-operatives and their potential for development and employment; to identify the needs of co-operatives and workers co-operatives in particular; to identify and seek to correct gaps in the current provisions and to monitor the work programme of the co-operative development unit also recently established by FÁS.
The implementation of the programme on co-operatives is a day to day matter for FÁS and I suggest the Deputy contact FÁS direct in the matter.