asked the Minister for Finance in respect of the State agencies directly under his aegis, the action which they have taken to establish a five-year development plan to develop overseas services on a consultancy basis relating to the skills and experience of the State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter indicating (a) the number of contracts, if any, which have been obtained and (b) the approximate value of the work which has been obtained.
Written Answers. - State Agencies Overseas Services.
154.
The position in relation to the State-sponsored bodies and other agencies under my aegis is as follows.
Industrial Credit Corporation
This body is participating with the Industrial Development Authority, Córas Tráchtála and SFADCo in the establishment of a new company, International Development Ireland Ltd. to carry out the existing and future international consultancy activities of all of those bodies and to provide an integrated service to foreign clients.
Economic and Social Research Institute
The Institute works to a five-year programme of research approved by its council. The institute has increasingly developed its research to take account of developments in the EC and their effect on the Irish economy and to earn export receipts by undertaking appropriate studies within the research programme of the Commission.
During 1988, 13 external research contracts were secured providing an income of approximately £159.000.
Institute of Public Administration
The Institute's Corporate Plan includes overseas development and targets possible overseas consultancy work in Europe, Africa and Central America. This involves ongoing contacts with the World Bank, the UN, UNESCO and the EC. The information services of CTT and DEVCO are also utilised. The plan for 1989-90 provides for two assignments in Central America (funded by the EC and World Bank respectively), an assignment in UNESCO (funded by that organisation), two assignments in Africa (funded by the World Bank and EC respectively) and an assignment in Spain (EC funded).
In the last two years the Institute obtained external contracts in Liberia, Zambia, Portugal and the Gambia to a value of approximately £755,000.
Irish Life
This body operates as a commercial life assurance company and would therefore avail of any suitable opportunities it can identify and exploit in overseas markets. However, these are unlikely to include consultancy services and the question of a development plan is therefore not relevant.
The development of overseas consultancy services is not an objective of the Agricultural Credit Corporation, Fóir Teoranta or of the Central Bank.