asked the Minister for Finance the number and grading of staff assigned to the preparation of an economic and social plan.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Economic and Social Plan.
3.
asked the Minister for Finance the organisational arrangements for economic and social planning made within his Department since he assumed office.
5.
asked the Minister for Finance when it is intended to publish a comprehensive economic and social plan.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together.
Responsibility for economic and social planning has been assigned to a Minister of State at the Department.
At the administrative level the preparation of the economic and social plan is the responsibility of the planning side of the public Expenditure and Planning Division of the Department of Finance. In addition, other officers in the Department, as well as in other Departments, contribute to the preparation of the plan.
The planning side of the Public Expenditure and Planning Division comprises a deputy secretary, two assistant secretaries, eight principals, thirteen assistant principals and supporting staff. These officers are also heavily engaged in other planning and development activities.
The Government intend to publish a comprehensive economic and social plan as early as practicable in 1982.
Can I be permitted a number of supplementaries? First of all, the Minister of State said "the planning side of the public expenditure division". Am I to take it that any specific organisational arrangements have been made since the Government took office to assign staff with specific responsibility in the planning area?
I can confirm that there is no separate division as such and the staff within the Public Expenditure and Planning Division that I have outlined work to me and also to the Minister for Finance, but the Deputy is correct. It is not a separate what one might call economic and social planning division as such within the Department, which confirms, in reply to his earlier question that the structure has not changed.
Still on Questions Nos. 3 and 4, has the Minister any proposals for staffing in this or other organisational arrangements? Are such proposals affected by the embargo on public service recruiting? Finally, would the Minister indicate the proportion of time which the staff mentioned by him are able to allocate to planning?
I have views as to what would be the most desirable structure if there were to be a change in relation to the existing structure, and I hope to succeed in due course in having these views accepted on a general basis.
Is the Minister suggesting that we should——
I would be very pleased to discuss it with interested parties.
Rather than delay I will assume that the Minister is indicating that either he has in preparation or will shortly have specific proposals to put to the Government, if necessary.
Yes. I stress that they would not be affected by the embargo. A separate division would be a reallocation of functions and responsibilities. The Deputy will appreciate that.
Deputy Donoghue, a final supplementary.
I come now to Question No. 5 on which I have not yet asked any supplementaries. Will the proposed plan include the various items as outlined in the Fine Gael manifesto, namely five-year projections of Government revenue-expenditure and will it contain proposals for the elimination of the current budget deficit? If I might ask an additional question, could the Minister indicate the relationship, if any, which the independent economic commission referred to in the Fine Gael proposals will have to the plan? They are given some important functions and in the light of the initial report of the Three Wise Men I would like some indication as to whether the same commission will be retained for the planning activities or whether some other independent economic commission is envisaged.
I think they lost their spurs.
The basic consultation forum in relation to the national plan will by the National Planning Board. I do not envisage that the commission referred to by the Deputy would necessarily be involved in the formulation of the plan as such. The headings outlined by the Deputy in the joint programme relating to economic growth, budgetary policy, incomes policy, elimination of deficit and public expenditure profiles certainly will be included in the plan together with what we would regard as an innovation long overdue, social policy criteria and social expenditure analyses. I hope to have that in on a rolling basis, the first plan in 1982-85, the next one revised during 1982 to have a plan for 1983-86. I am sure the Deputy will welcome that development.
Yes, indeed.
This will be the final supplementary. I ask the Deputy's co-operation in that regard.
I welcome the Minister's reference to the proposed inclusion of criteria relating to the social policies that are developing. Did I understand the Minister to say there would be a national planning board as distinct from the independent economic council referred to in Fine Gael proposals?
The national planning board is in the process of being established. I envisage the planning board will be consulted prior to the publication of the plan. The Estimates, annual economic review and so on will form part of the general planning cycle. A great deal of work done previously by the former Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, is available and can be incorporated.
Question No. 6.
May I——
I am calling Question No. 6.
Only four supplementary questions have been asked so far.
I am calling Question No. 6. Will the Minister kindly answer?
On a point of order, is it not normal practice during Question Time to allow at least two or three supplementaries per question?
There is no precise regulation covering supplementaries. The Chair is the sole judge and it is not required to allow any supplementary. I ask Deputies to accept that and allow business to proceed. There are 541 questions on today's Order Paper. Each question is of importance to the Deputy who tabled it. I am calling on the Minister to answer Question No. 6.
Before you do——
The Chair is the sole judge of this matter and I am asking the Minister to answer Question No. 6.
I would be the last person to argue that point with the Chair. It has always been the practice——
The Deputy is out of order.
In fairness to Deputies, will the chair allow questions on what is possibly the most important subject today — national planning? The Minister is obviously prepared to answer Deputy Wood's final supplementary.
The Minister is subject to the Chair too. I am calling Question No. 6.
When a number of questions have been taken together it is not unreasonable——
Nine minutes have been allowed for three questions. If Deputies apply that yardstick to all the questions on the Order Paper they will get an idea how long it will take the answer all 541 questions. Would the Minister kindly answer Question No. 6?