Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 May 1980

Vol. 320 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Understanding Commitments.

34.

Mr. Cluskey

asked the Minister for Finance the number of commitments, if any, made by the Government in the National Understanding which have not yet been implemented.

35.

Mr. Mitchell

asked the Minister for Finance the commitments entered into by the Government in the National Understanding 1979 and the progress made to date on each commitment.

Mr. O'Kennedy

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.

The pay elements of the national understanding have been implemented in full by the Government. As regards the non-pay elements, some of the terms of the understanding are in specific form and the extent of progress in implementing them can be established fairly readily. Others, in the words of the understanding, "include statements of the board objectives to be pursued over a period of years and the specific steps to be taken during the coming months as the first phase of the longer-term programme". As far as such broad objectives are concerned, it would be too soon at this stage to speak of their being fulfilled or not fulfilled.

I propose to circulate a table for inclusion in the Official Report showing the commitments made by the Government in the understanding with a note on each commitment giving the up-to-date position. It is the Government's intention to meet their commitments under the national understanding. It is to be borne in mind in this connection that the success of the understanding depends on parallel contributions from all three parties involved.

Position regarding non-pay commitments entered into by Government under the National Understanding.

Item	Current Position
Employment Gurantee (max. 5,000 jobs).	The guarantee has been activated. The Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment has been meeting since September and the employment programme to be financed from the Employment Guarantee Fund is now almost entirely finalised.
50% employer contribution, to yield up to £10m. for employment gurantee.	The employer contribution are being collected from April 1980. £3m. of the Government contribution of £10m. was voted by the Dáil last year; the balance is provided for in this year's Estimates Volume.
Investigation of work-sharing possi- bilities.	A consultancy study on double-jobbing has been completed and submitted to the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment. A further study on overtime will shortly be available and will be submitted to the Tripartite Standing Committee.
Legislation to reduce statutory limits on working hours.	Legislation is being prepared for introduction in the Dáil and consultations will take place with ICTU and with employer organisations in the matter.
Establishment of National Hire Agency.	Arrangements for the establishment of the Agency are nearing completion. Some further consultations with ICTU are required before matters are finalised.
Establishment of National Enterprise Agency.	Discussions are taking place on this matter.
Establishment of sectoral industrial committees.	An outline proposal for the establishment of two committees initially was circulated to ICTU and the employer organisations in December and their comments on the proposal are awaited.
Payment of £39m. PAYE tax allowance.	The allowance was paid in end-November 1979.
Government-ICTU Working Party on Taxation.	The report of the Working Party has been prepared and is available publicly.
Government to work towards an income tax system based on full income splitting.	An income tax system on this basis has been achieved as a result of the 1980 budget.
Taxation of such gains as gains from speculations to be pursued by the Government.	This work is ongoing.
Increase in social welfare benefits.	These increases became effective from 1 October 1979.
Improvement in special winter social welfare schemes.	A new voucher scheme for the provision of winter fuel for certain Social Welfare categories in certain areas was introduced in October.
Upward revision of health eligibility limit from £5,500 to £7,000.	The formal statutory revision upward to £7,000 will be effective from 1 June 1980. An interim scheme to compensate persons in the £5,500-£7,000 income range for certain medical expenses was introduced from 25 July 1979 and will continue to 31 May 1980.
Government discussion document on industrial democracy.	The document was published in March.
Establishment of advisory committee on worker participation and discus- sion on worker participation issues in various parts of the public sector.	These undertakings could not be acted on until the discussion paper on worker participation had been published. Work on them will now proceed.
Development of a voluntary code of practice on disclosure of company information and final decisions on EEC Fourth Directive on Company Law.	These items will be dealt with in the context of a forthcoming amendment of the Companies Act.
Additional Exchequer contribution to be made to the Irish Productivity Centre in 1979.	Additional contribution not required in 1979.
Ratification of ILO Convention No. 135 on the protection of workers' repre- sentative at the workplace.	This matter is at present the subject of negotiation at the Employer Labour Conference.
Publication of White Paper on Education in 1979.	The White Paper is in course of preparation.
Government to give early consideration to a proposal for ratification of ILO	A working party has been set up by the Minister for
to a proposal for ratification of ILO	Labour to study this matter.
Convention No. 140 on paid educational leave
Increased Exchequer contribution for trade union education and advisory services.	The State subvention towards the education and advisory services of ICTU in 1980 is £300,000 as compared to £205,000 in 1979 and £193,000 in 1978.
As far as possible, Government to provide additional real resources for education.	Government bore this commitment in mind in setting the 1980 budgetary allocations and the aggregate provision for the Education Group of Votes, at £505.7m., represents an increase in real terms of 9.3% compared to the allocation £399.0m. in the 1979 Estimates Volume.
Priority for primary and second level in allocation of resources.	This policy is reflected in the 1980 budgetary allocations.
Improved machinery for consultation.	Improved consultation procedures agreed with ICTU.
Services in adult education sector to be developed.	50 adult education organisers appointed. Section responsible for adult education created in Department of Education.
Study of value of educational broad- casting.	Members of group to carry out the study are being appointed.
Priority for educationally disadvantaged.	In school year 1979-80, 76 additional remedial teachers appointed in national schools; at second-level, 100 exquota teachers also appointed.