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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1977
FAILURE OF CONTRACTORS TO MEET THE IR PROGRAMMES AS A RESULT OF ORGANISATIONAL AND LABOUR PROBLEMS, EXCEPTIONALLY WET WEATHER, DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING MATERIALS OR PLANT, OR DIFFICULT SITE CONDITIONS HAD MEANT THAT ANOTHER $109 MILLION WAS NOT SPENT.
HE SAID THE REST OF THE UNDER-SPENDING WAS MAINLY DUE TO CHANGES IN THE DESIGN OR SCOPE OF PROJECTS WHICH EITHER CUT COSTS OR DELAYED THE START OF WORK - AND TO OVER-ESTIMATION BY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT DURING THE YEAR ATTEMPTS HAD BEEN MADE BY THE P.W.D. TO MAKE UP FOR THE UNDER-SPENDING BY INJECTING NEW ITEMS INTO THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND ACCELERATING WORK ON OTHERS.
+THE RESULTS OF OUR EFFORTS PRODUCED ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF $113 MILLION, HE SAID, +BUT THIS WAS ERODED BY FURTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF UNDER-EXPENDITURE, AND FINALLY ONLY ABOUT 18 PER CENT OF THE OVERALL DEFICIENCY WAS RETRIEVED,+
REFERRING TO ANOTHER POINT RAISED BY MISS DUNN, REGARDING THE STAFFING AND ORGANISATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT LIKE MOST OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THE P.W.D. HAD BEEN GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON STAFF RECRUITMENT AND EXPANSION IN EARLY 1975.
+THESE LIMITATIONS, COUPLED WITH THE COMPETITION FROM AND ATTRACTION TO EMPLOYMENT IN OTHER SECTORS, UNDERMINED THE DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO MEET ALL OUR PROGRAMMES,+ HE SAID.
AT APRIL 1, 1975 THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, FOR INSTANCE, HAD BEEN 16 PER CENT BELOW ITS ESTABLISHMENT FOR ARCHITECTS- 18 PER CENT BELOW FOR BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERS- 19 PER CENT FOR QUANTITY SURVEYORS AND 26 PER CENT FOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS.
HE SAID: +DURING 1976 VACANCIES FOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS WERE REDUCED BY ABOUT HALF, BUT THE SITUATION DETERIORATED STILL FURTHER IN RESPECT OF ARCHITECTS, WITH THE POSITION AT MARCH 1, 1977 SHOWING VACANCIES OF OVER 30 PER CENT.
+HOWEVER, RESPONSE TO CURRENT RECRUITMENT EXERCISES BEING CARRIED OUT BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS INDICATES THAT WE SHOULD COME CLOSE TO FILLING MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE VACANCIES OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,+ SAID MR. MCDONALD.
THE DEFICIENCY OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN THE CIVIL ENGINEERING FIELD -- WHICH WAS RUNNING AT MORE THAN 15 PER CENT IN APRIL 1975 HAD BEEN FULLY MADE UP BY MARCH THIS YEAR.
+THE FULL EFFECTS OF THIS IMPROVEMENT SHOULD BECOME EVIDENT DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR,+ MR. MCDONALD SAID.
+WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY EXAMINING THE ADEQUACY OF STAFF TO MEET WORKS PROGRAMMES AND ARE, FOR EXAMPLE, AT PRESENT PRODUCING DETAILED ASSESSMENTS OF STAFF REQUIREMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, HE ADDED.
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