Vol. 387 No. 10
asked the Minister for Communications the progress which has been made on the implementation of the development proposals for An Post contained in the Programme for National Recovery, agreed with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
31.
asked the Minister for Communications the progress which has been made on the implementation of the development proposals for RTE contained in the Programme for National Recovery, agreed with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
35.
asked the Minister for Communications the progress which has been made on the implementation of the development proposals for Telecom Éireann contained in the Programme for National Recovery agreed with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 31 and 35 together. The information sought by the Deputies is contained in tabular statements which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Following are the statements:
|
Reference in Programme for National Recovery |
Item |
Progress |
|
Section V, para. 7 |
To bring down the existing high costs |
The following reduction in international telephone call charges, with effect from 1 October 1988 have been made by BTE. 20 per cent reduction to EC countries and Switzerland, 25 per cent reduction to North America and 30 per cent reduction to Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Africa. |
|
Section V, para. 30 |
Creation of new jobs |
BTE has recruited 14 additional middle and junior management staff. |
|
Section V, para. 31 and Appendix to Programme |
Overseas Consultancies |
BTE set up Telecom Éireann Services International (TESI) in 1985 to provide consultancy services and training facilities to foreign telephone companies. TESI has completed projects in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Haiti, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The unit is currently pursuing consultancy work for the EC Commission among others. TESI have recently secured a contract with British Telecom to provide engineering staff to carry out installation, operations and maintenance work in the City of London District. The number of staff currently engaged on the British Telecom contract is over 400. There are also 3 staff on consultancy work in Mozambique and 1 in Brussels. There are also 2 members of staff in Kenya. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Development of terminals market |
Telecom Éireann Information Systems (TEIS) is continuing to pursue opportunities in the telecommunications terminal market and new product lines were recently introduced. Consideration by BTE of a report prepared by a firm of international consultants (appointed to assist in indentifying new business areas offering potential for appropriate ventures) has now been completed and a Business Development Directorate has been established within the company to examine and develop new business opportunities. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Development of opportunities in telemarketing |
Progress has been made in developing telemarketing, and this now provides 6 full time jobs. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Develop a data entry service aimed at specific overseas markets |
In-house data entry systems have been developed to a stage where they currently employ up to 40 staff and this resource is being marketed abroad at present. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Expand BTE contract work in the areas of cabling and private networks |
The company has installed a national data network for the national lottery to serve the lotto system. 1,563 terminals have been installed and maintenance of lotto equipment at retail outlets has given rise to 7 new jobs. The Company has also provided cabling for local TV dissemination for cable television companies in Dublin Cork, and Limerick. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The possible development of Banking and Retail Services |
A steering Group is evaluating proposals drawn up by An Post and hopes to make recommendations at an early date. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The development of a mail-order service |
An Post is encouraging development in this area by the provision and improvement of a number of services to the mail order industry. The facility to pre-pay customs duty on mail order items to the USA was introduced in August 1988. An Post has established an international mails function with responsibility for the design and implementation of mail packages to meet specific needs. An international Business Reply Service to 13 European countries has been introduced. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The rebuilding of the Parcels-Express Mail Service |
An Post has launched a programme to revitalise and rationalise its parcels service, involving, inter alia, the transfer of operations from the Central Sorting Office, Sheriff Street, Dublin, to a newly acquired parcels depot at Naas Road, Clondalkin. An Post hopes to have the new depot operational later this year. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The provision of an Electronic Mail Service |
An Post has decided to proceed with the provision of electronic mail and electronic document interchange services. The company is in the process of recruiting 8 new skilled staff to implement the initial pilot phase of the service. |
|
Section V, para. 6 |
State-sponsored bodies to develop and diversify their economic employment creating activities |
Following on the decision of the Bank of Ireland to withdraw from the operation of the Prize Bonds Scheme the franchise to run it is being granted to a company jointly owned by An Post and FEXCO (the Foreign Exchange Company of Ireland). 90 people will be employed for two years by FEXCO in Killorglin and Dingle during the computerisation phase of the scheme. The scheme will provide 31 longer term posts, four of which will be in Dublin. |
|
Section V, para. 30 |
Job creation |
The introduction of the An Post National Lottery Game “Lotto” is directly responsible for the creation of 28 new jobs in G-Tech (Ireland) Corporation. |
|
Section V, para. 31 |
State Agencies Overseas Consultancies |
An Post is assessing the area of consultancy work and, as an initial step, the company has joined DEVCO with the objective of identifying potential opportunities for such work. |
|
RTE |
||
|
Appendix to Programme |
The development of a £4 million joint project between RTE and Radio Luxembourg to establish a new long-wave radio service operating from Ireland with the potential to generate £3 million per year in advertising revenue. The new project will involve the creation of 25 permanent jobs apart from those involved initially in construction activity. |
Construction work has commenced on the site with an average of 12 workers being employed for the duration of the building work. The station is scheduled to commence operations in August 1989. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The diversion of £1 million in funds to the independent film/video producing sector to assist in RTE's strategy of more home produced programmes. |
RTÉ spent £2.0 million in 1988 on acquisition of independently produced programmes using the services of about 20 companies which employ 60-80 people full time and an equal number of freelance workers. A budget of £2.2 million has been set aside for independent programme acquisition in 1989. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The provision with Údarás Na Gaeltachta of a programme/post-production facility in the Gaeltacht, providing up to 4 jobs initially. |
RTÉ and An tÚdarás have set up a facilities house which will attract independent producers. RTE itself has provided for the commissioning of programmes valued at £100,000 from Telegael Teo in 1989. |
|
A suitable building was obtained and renovated in Spiddal and a chief executive and 6 others have been appointed. |
||
|
The facility has been equipped with modern television and audio post-production facilities. It houses a specialist dubbing theatre which has been designed specifically to re-voice foreign language programmes, particularly children's programmes, into Irish. The company has been commissioned by RTE to provide 5.5 hours of an Irish language production and this work to be completed by 7 July 1989. The company is currently auditioning local Irish speaking actors to play suitable parts and has employed Irish speaking script writers to translate the original German scripts. It expects to provide work for a pool of up to 30 actors and scriptwriters in addition to the projected permanent employment of 8 persons by the end of 1989. |
||
|
Appendix to Programme |
Marketing of RTÉ computer software internationally. |
RTE is preparing to market its own computer software relating to library management and advertising sales. |
|
Section V, paragraph 30 |
Job creation. |
In 1988 more than 50 people joined the organisation on a contract basis either for run of programmes or term contracts, to work on the development of more home produced programmes. |
In relation to the development of banking and retail services by An Post, I should like to ask the Minister if he is satisfied with the progress made to date.
The information sought by the Deputy will be circulated in the Official Report and in my view it would be unfair to start picking and choosing from the different items. I should like to tell the Deputy, on the possible development of banking and retail services, that a steering group are evaluating proposals drawn up by An Post and hope to make recommendations at an early date. I would like to have seen that happen sooner but they have not made recommendations as yet.
I am baffled as to how the reply to these questions is being put in tabular form since we are not seeking statistical information.
The Minister is back from Murrayfield.
The Minister was not at Murrayfield.
It may mean that the Minister has given a very detailed reply.
I have given a six page reply referring to each item specified in the programme. I have no doubt that the Deputy will be asking me questions in relation to it on the next occasion I am in the House for Question Time.
