Written Answers. - Computer Programmes.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
16
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself with the results of the Government's Business Awareness Campaign; the costs incurred by the campaign to date; its budget for 1999; its schedule of events for 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8334/99]
Dick Spring
Question:
18
Mr. Spring
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the further consideration, if any, she has given to a proposal that there should be a State-sponsored loan scheme put in place to assist small businesses become year 2000 compliant; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[8335/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together.
As the Minister with responsibility for the year 2000 problem, I launched a national business awareness campaign in May of last year. The success of this campaign is evidenced by a survey, conducted by the Irish Computer Society, which showed, in September last, that almost nine out of ten businesses were aware of the year 2000 problem. It also showed, however, that only 52 per cent of companies had already begun year 2000 projects.
Despite the high levels of awareness, the somewhat poorer level of action is worrying. For this reason and to heighten knowledge of the need to take early and definitive action; I launched the Enterprise Ireland National Y2K Information Service in December last, specifically geared to the needs of small and medium sized companies. The new information service includes a helpline number – 1850 57 2000. Callers are provided with an information pack including a directory of Y2K consultants and service providers. In addition the service provides a series of training workshops both to companies and to intermediaries such as the county and city enterprise boards and many others.
The new information service also operates a dedicated website providing updated versions of its information pack and various other relevant material. The Y2K website provides links to other suitable sites of direct benefit to SMEs.
Nevertheless, I am still concerned about the levels of preparedness of Irish companies to deal with the millennium bug problem. To try to accurately gauge their preparedness, Enterprise Ireland has initiated a comprehensive national survey on the levels of compliance of Irish companies. This survey will be repeated every quarter for the remainder of the year to assess the changing levels of compliance and to direct actions to stimulate compliance. The first results are expected next month.
I am broadly satisfied that the awareness campaign has been a success and I reiterate the Government has no responsibility towards ensuring that companies actually take our advice and get their systems compliant.
A total of £42,964 was spent on the campaign during 1998. A sum of £300,000 is being made available to Enterprise Ireland for the awareness campaign this year. A further sum of £30,000 has been included in our Department's Estimate for spending on this issue during 1999, if required. Before the current campaign got under way, £10,000 was spent in 1997 on the production of a leaflet highlighting the problem. This leaflet was distributed widely. The Government has also included £40 million in the last national budget, for public sector compliance.
Continuing efforts to publicise the issue will continue during this year and I have addressed several conferences already on the subject and will continue to use every opportunity to publicise the subject. The Enterprise Ireland campaign which I have already outlined will continue throughout this year and into the early part of next year. I have arranged that the city and county enterprise boards will organise a series of events for their client companies during the year and the first of these is being launched this week. Shannon Development is organising a series of seminars next month. Various initiatives have also been undertaken by private sector groups and I have encouraged all of these projects.
It has been made very clear over the last three years, that the role of Government has been to raise awareness for business on the issue. There is no question of State funding, including my State sponsored loan scheme, being provided to companies to defray the costs of ensuring that their systems are compliant. We do not consider that it would be appropriate for the State to get involved in such funding.
Individual enterprises must identify the issues as they affect their companies and devise solutions and may have already done so. This is primarily a management issue, just like other management issues which arise all the time in the running of business. I do not consider it to have any political context. It is a matter for each individual business, and other users of computer systems, to assess the full implications of the year 2000 on their particular systems, to identify the necessary solution and take remedial action forthwith.
