asked the Minister for Labour if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Management, especially the recommendation that public funds be redirected away from such bodies as the Irish Management Institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Advisory Committee on Management Training.
18.
I launched the Report of the Advisory Committee on Management Training on 18 January 1989.
I am currently considering all the committee's recommendations, including the proposals about State assistance. Following this examination, I will be making a submission to Government.
Would the Minister agree that one of the reasons Irish industry has not been as successful as it might, and one of the contributory factors to poor industrial relations over the years, has been bad management? In view of that would he agree also that there is great need for more and better management training? Furthermore, if he accepts that contention, would he agree that we should be very slow to reduce assistance to the Irish Management Institute which is our only management training institute?
I agree with what the Deputy says. The recommendations of the report refer to the relevant statistics, showing that of the top 1,000 companies the vast majority spend less than £1,000 per annum on management training, and that there is a handful only who expend the necessary resources on the provision of proper management training. The report contends that the bulk of State expenditure is devoted to business education rather than management training. For example, they state that £12 million was spent in 1986 on business education, £8.5 million of which went to the RTCs, just over £2 million to universities and £0.8 million to the NIHEs whereas, in contrast, £3 million only went to management training and development, that being divided between the IMI — which received less than £0.5 million — and the balance going to the Institute of Public Administration and FÁS. The report in its recommendations emphasises that these moneys should go to the participants rather than the people who conduct the courses. That is a matter that warrants consideration. I agree with the Deputy that, were we to take all funding from the IMI, it would create enormous difficulties and constitute a retrograde step.
I agree with the Minister's attitude. In response to what Deputy Jim Mitchell has said, is the Minister aware that the Irish Management Institute have said that they are already adapting their procedures to the possibility that the day will arrive when State funding will be withdrawn and that they should then be given asistance for management training from within industry?
Yes, the Report of the Advisory Committee on Management Training stated that all direct State funding for the provision of post-experience management training would be phased out over a three-year period. That is already taking place. For example, in the last three Books of Estimates grants to the Irish Management Institute have been substantially reduced.
That disposes of questions, both oral and priority, for today. We might now proceed to other business.