With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.
I am in consultation with the Minister for Labour about the question of a training scheme for travelling people throughout the country to be undertaken with social fund assistance.
So far as my Department are concerned, the position is that the financial contribution made in 1979 by a number of local authorities towards the provision of training centres for travelling people has already been met in full by this Department and salaries of social workers serving the centres are being met by this Department to the extent of 90 per cent. The question of recoupment from the social fund of part of this expenditure and, possibly, of local authorities maintenance contributions, is at present being examined.