Vol. 439 No. 7
93 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the size of the workforce in the semi-State sector reporting to his Department; the way in which that size will change by the final year of the National Development Plan, 1994-1999; and whether there is any departmental advisory or study team working to expand employment in the semi-State sector.
As the Deputy is aware, the level of employment in the semi-State sector is determined by the respective entities involved in the sector. The most recent information available to me indicates an employment level of 60,800 in respect of semi-State bodies which operate under the aegis of my Department. It is difficult at this stage to predict precise variations in overall employment by 1999. It is the responsibility of each body to employ an organisational and operational strategy best suited to its needs.
In the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, it is stated that the most significant contribution which the State enterprises can make to national economic and social development is the delivery of services which are efficient, effective and able to compete in the markets they serve. In addition, State enterprises will consider, where possible, the issue of productive job growth in the context of their mandate to manage and develop profitable enterprises. I have no plans to engage an advisory or study team for the purposes suggested by the Deputy.
