Vol. 535 No. 3
10 Mr Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the delay in the production of information materials for retailers regarding the euro changeover plan, the reason for the delay in providing information on euro cash requirements, software, sales aids, staff training videos and other materials; the further reason this information has not been widely distributed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12162/01]
We are unaware of any delay in communicating information to the retail sector. To-date, 178,000 copies of Getting Your Retail Business Ready for the Euro, a guide to assist Irish retailers in planning for the changeover, have been distributed by the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign. It was distributed through a number of channels – by post directly to 40,000 retail outlets, by retail organisations to their members, via chambers of commerce, county and city enterprise boards, area partnerships, by five of the main commercial banks directly to their retail customers, as an insert in retail trade publications, and at presentations, exhibitions and conferences attended by the campaign.
The guide outlines what will happen on -day (1 January 2002), when euro notes and coins are introduced into circulation, and the role that retailers will play in the changeover process. It includes a checklist of issues for retailers in preparing their own plan to manage the changeover, including how to convert Irish pound amounts to euro, dual display, dealing with dual circulation, staff training and advice on estimating euro cash requirements. The guide's availability continues to be advertised in the retail trade press.
An easy to use computer software programme, euroFloat, was developed by the euro Changeover Board of Ireland (ECBI), and distributed since early March by both the ECBI and the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign. euroFloat helps retailers to estimate the number and denominations of euro notes and coins that they will require to enable them to give change in euro when the new notes and coins come into circulation on 1 January 2002. The tool can also be down-loaded from the ECBI and Forfás campaign websites.
The implementation of the changeover to euro cash is outlined in Ireland's cash changeover plan for 2002, which was produced by the euro Changeover Board of Ireland – ECBI – and approved by this Government. This plan was drawn up in consultation with a wide range of bodies represented on the cash changeover working group of the ECBI as well as the members of the Forfás retail working group. Organisations representing both large and small retailers are members of these two groups. With the agreement of all the organisations involved in drawing up the cash changeover plan, there is a commitment that adequate training kits for retailers will be available by 1 October next. However, the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign, which has the responsibility for producing these kits, is working to have them available at an earlier date, to facilitate those retailers who indicated that they wish to carry out training over the summer months.
For some retail sectors, particularly those that experience high turnover of staff, training can only be carried out closer to the time of the introduction of euro cash. Work is also under way by the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign on the production of a training video which will be made available to retail organisations, chambers of commerce, etc., to assist retailers with staff training. Again it is intended that this will be available by the summer. FÁS also intends to deliver training to retail staff through a dedicated programme to be organised through its network of training centres. This will be conducted in October and November next, during the traditional retail training period.
Is the Minister aware that many retailers do not have posters, leaflets, window signs, or the staff training? These have not been delivered yet. The ECBI may have them but the trade do not. There is difficulty with the changeover in information technology, accounting, the legal profession and human resources in staff training. The Minister mentioned the guide but it is only one booklet. Staff training is not taking place. Has the Minister met the ECBI to clarify the distribution of the material? A company that contacted them was told that they are waiting for a print-out which they do not have.
Is the Minister of State in the video?
No. I would not impose myself unnecessarily on consumers or professional people. It is only—
He is only in the video in east Galway.
—when we are really required to assist that we will—
Well, something has gone seriously wrong
I do not accept that because we have an excellent team. The international surveys across the euro zone show that Ireland is in a leading position as a result of our programmes. I met the ECBI and we are in constant communication with the EMU Forfás campaigning team which works directly to officials in our Department. Not alone have we led the way, we created the only euro town in the entire zone, where 30 businesses and a farmer were involved in the changeover for the last two years. We had 51 unexpected technological, cash, equipment and hardware problems.
Where is the eurotown?
It is Loughrea, County Galway. It was not my decision, as the Tánaiste will confirm. A proposal came from the Loughrea Chamber of Commerce and was assessed by the ECBI, Forfás, and the Departments of Finance and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Eventually £0.25 million was made available with two professional people managing the programme. Even Commissioner Pedro Solbes said that he had found no one else who had made such a contribution.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
