Vol. 426 No. 5
117 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the policy changes, if any, which underpin the increases or decreases in the subheads in Votes controlled by his Department; and if he will make a statement on whether increased or reduced services will be provided by his Department in 1993.
The overall net increase in the 1993 Estimate for my Department is £6.8 million (2 per cent) compared with the 1992 provisional out-turn as published in the Estimates for Public Services (Abridged Version).
The principal determining factor in arriving at departmental allocations for 1993 is, as the Deputy is aware, the constraints inherent in the overall budgetary situation, and this accounts for those areas of my Department's Vote which are the subject of a decreased allocation. As far as the individual subheads appropriate to the State agencies under my Department's control are concerned, the management of the amounts allocated would, in each case, be a day-to-day matter for the agency or body concerned. Policy changes are not involved.
In regard to the training and employment schemes provided by FÁS, it is envisaged that training will be provided for about 14,500 persons which is on a par with 1992. There will be an increase of 1,500 approximately over 1992 in the number of participants on the social employment scheme, which will bring total participation up to 13,500 approximately in 1993. The employment subsidy scheme is due to end this month as intended when the scheme was started in February 1992. The estimates provide for payments to continue in respect of those employees already recruited under the scheme.
In regard to the Labour Relations Commission, when increases in pay are taken into account the resources available to the Commission in 1993 are the same as 1992. The level of services provided will therefore continue to be maintained.
The bulk of the grant to EOLAS for capital services, which shows an increase of £1.5 million to £4 million, is ear-marked for the building of a modern national metrology laboratory which will provide improved services to industry.
