Vol. 377 No. 1
asked the Minister for Labour if he will indicate with respect to each county and county borough the number of Teamwork schemes which were in operation at 31 December 1987; and if he will indicate in respect of each scheme; (a) the number of participants involved (b) the type of work undertaken by the project and (c) the nature of the sponsor of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
258.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will indicate for each county (a) the number of social employment schemes that were in operation at 31 December 1987, (b) if he will further indicate with respect to each scheme the nature of the project involved, (c) the number of participants and (d) whether the sponsor was a public authority or a private body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
259.
asked the Minister for Labour if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a substantial sum approximately £40,000 is still due from the social employment scheme to Louth County Council; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that due to the serious financial situation of Louth County Council no new social employment scheme can be introduced in Louth; when this money will be paid; the period of delay; the reason for the delay, if any, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
260.
asked the Minister for Labour when a social employment scheme which was recently applied for by Ballybunion golfclub, County Kerry, will be sanctioned.
261.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will release works under the social employment scheme which are with the monitoring committee (details supplied) for County Wexford at present.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 256, to 261, inclusive, together.
As the information sought by the Deputies is concerned with day-to-day activities of FÁS, I would suggest that they seek this information direct from FÁS.
The rationale behind the establishment of non-commercial State-sponsored bodies such as FÁS to carry out executive functions of Government is to provide the optimum degree of flexibility and freedom and to relieve Ministers of responsibility for the decisions which the boards and staff of the bodies take in the course of day-to-day administration of their responsibilities.
The principal functions of FÁS are set out in the Labour Services Act, 1987. I am answerable to the Dáil for the overall policy of FÁS including the legislation under which it operates and also for the Exchequer allocations provided to it. However, day-to-day operations of FÁS are a matter for its board, and I am not answerable to these specifics. Section 12(5) of the 1987 Act relieves FÁS of the obligation of furnishing me with information on day-to-day activities.
