With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.
Up to the week ended 28 March 1980 a total of £490,986 has been paid under the employment incentive scheme in respect of the additional employment of 1,320 workers in the banking and insurance sector. A sum of £4.11 million has been provided in the 1980 Estimates for the employment incentive scheme.
Having regard to the present economic and financial situation, and the need to achieve savings in public expenditure, I have notified participating firms that it is not possible to continue payment of premia to banks and insurance companies.
As regards the future of the scheme, the position is that any scheme of this kind is always subject to review in the light of prevailing circumstances.