asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give (a) the number of persons who were employed in the administration of the National Linkage Programme and (b) the annual cost of the scheme in the year 1986.
70.
Written Answers. - National Linkage Programme.
69.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) the total number of jobs directly created under the National Linkage Programme since its inception; (b) the number of jobs which were created per county; (c) the number of jobs which were created per industrial sector; and (d) the cost to the State of each such job.
71.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is his intendion to rationalise the functions of the Irish Goods Council and the National Linkage Programme with a view to avoiding the wasteful duplication of functions and the consequential loss of scarce State funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 to 71, inclusive, together.
Nineteen persons were employed in the operation of the National Linkage Programme during 1986 and the total operating cost, which was borne by the State agencies participating, was £552,000. The programme is solely concerned with the development of trade between Irish sub-suppliers and multinational companies based in Ireland and with improving sub-suppliers' competitiveness in export markets. It is estimated that in 1986 approximately £40 million worth of additional business was won by Irish sub-suppliers as a result of the programme but information as to the number of jobs directly created as a result of the programme is not available.
The marketing activities of the Irish Goods Council include the general promotion of industrial products and components of the home market by way of a sourcing service, exhibitions and other marketing activities. Close liaison is maintained between the council and the National Linkage Programme to ensure that no overlaps in their separate but complementary activities occur.
The question as to whether any rationalisation of these activities is necessary will be considered in the agency rationalisation review proposed in the recently published Review of Industrial Performance 1986.