asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the extent to which progress has been made in merging AnCO, YEA and NMS into FÁS.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Establishment of FÁS.
29.
The Labour Services Act, 1987 which provides for the establishment of An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) and the dissolution of AnCO, NMS and YEA was enacted on 18 July, 1987. Since then I have been pressing ahead with its implementation, specifically in relation to the setting up of FÁS, in consultation with relevant interests.
On 25 September, 1987, I made an order under section 2 of the Act fixing 1 January, 1988 as the establishment day for the purposes of the Act. On that day FÁS shall become a legal entity and will assume responsibility for all the functions currently exercised by the three other bodies which shall then cease to exist.
I have also appointed the chairman and 14 ordinary members of FÁS in accordance with the relevant provisions contained in Part I of the Schedule to the Act. Since 30 September, however, members of FÁS have been meeting regularly on an informal basis under the chairman. They have met senior managers of the three agencies involved with a view to putting in place the necessary arrangements for bringing FÁS into operation on 1 January.
Applications for the post of Director General of FÁS were invited by means of a public advertisement during the last week in August 1987 and the first week in September 1987. I hope to announce the appointment of the Director General shortly.
Staff in AnCO, NMS and YEA have been kept informed of developments by means of general circulars and consultations with their staff representatives. Officers of my Department who are being assigned to FÁS under section 7 of the Act have already been notified to that effect.
On the basis of progress to date, I am satisfied that all the preparatory work which can contribute to the successful launch of FÁS on 1 January, 1988 will have been completed by then.
Have the discussions with the various trade union interests been concluded at this stage and, if not, what outstanding issues remain to be disposed of?
Fairly conclusive debates have been continuing all the time. The main issues which the board designate of FÁS have been considering affect the staffing and organisational structures of the new body, general staffing arrangements, premises, pension schemes, rationalisation of programmes and concerns of staff associations, We have been working by way of sub-committees. All of those arrangements have been agreed and the necessary details have been almost completed between the Departments of Finance and Labour. The concerns of the staff interests are that there should be no compulsory redundancies, no worsening of conditions in the new organisations, there should be preservation of career and promotion opportunities, assurances about adequate consultation and redeployment and preservation of pension entitlements. I have concluded the negotiations. Mainly I have been trying to allay fears of individuals and I have completed that exercise.
Will the Minister accept that there is a perception, I am sure he will think it is an unfair perception, that, the Dáil having expedited the passage of the legislation —— it was not entirely without controversy —— there has been a certain lack of urgency in the follow-up since then?
That is a totally unfair perception not so much from my own point of view but the staff directly concerned have worked almost every night since 1 September and since 1 October they have worked every weekend also. The various bulletins on the industrial relations difficulties are now at hand. People have been appointed. As regards the organisational structure, posts have been advertised and interviews will be held shortly. Legal and accountancy matters are in hand and progress on updating the modelling of the new offices is also in hand. There are over 100 people in training and that training should be completed before Christmas. Those people will have to deal face to face with the public. I have been very closely involved in the meetings and while I would like to pay tribute to the chairman and to his senior staff in all the agencies, the officials in the Department of Labour have worked extremely hard. This work could not have been done if it was not for the co-operation of the Opposition spokespeople who allowed me to get the Bill through before the summer. They can take as much credit for the matter as I can.
The remaining question, No. 30, please.
This is all very touching.
I propose to move on to other business at 3.45 p.m. Will the Deputy facilitate me by letting the Minister answer his remaining question?
I would prefer to use more of my time on this question. May I ask the Minister to what extent the members of the board have been given an opportunity of having an input into the qualifications and the character of a suitable applicant for chief executive and for the other senior posts which have been advertised and which the Minister mentioned? Did they have any opportunity of indicating the kind of person they want for the job?
I have spoken on an informal basis to almost every member on the board and I am well advised on the type of person that is required for the job. I hope I will make the right decision and I will announce it in the next few days. As regards the structure of the Board, I have left that matter totally to them. They have advertised within the existing organisations for the senior managerial positions and the interviews will take place shortly. I have not involved myself with the individuals concerned.
Can the Minister say if it is clear at this stage that a number of the premises that are at present occupied by one or other of these agencies are likely to be redundant? Will there be more premises available than will be required and what arrangements are being made to dispose of them so that they will not represent a drain on the State and on the new agency?
A premises committee has been set up and they are undertaking a very comprehensive review of the premises nationwide to see which ones will not be necessary, which ones need to be updated within the resources that are available and if we can amalgamate some premises. That work will take some months. It will certainly not be completed prior to 1 January. The work is in hand and a very active group are dealing with it.