asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if (a) in respect of the years 1973-4, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, he will state which Irish semi-State bodies were involved in projects in developing countries, other than those projects financed in whole or in part from the bilateral aid programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and (b) in the case of each project he will state (i) the nature of the project, (ii) the semi-State body involved, (iii) the total cost, (iv) by whom the cost was borne, (v) the organisation or project-holder in the developing country, (vi) the terms on which the projects were carried out, on a break-even, semi-commercial or commercial basis, and (vii) the number of semi-State employees involved in each year mentioned.
Written Answers. - Projects in Developing Countries.
Involvement of semi-State bodies in projects in developing countries, other than those financed partly or wholly by the bilateral aid programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs, is a recent phenomenon. It is estimated that the value of such projects in the year 1977 was in the region of £12 million. In view of the detail sought by the Deputy and the fact that several semi-State bodies are involved, it has not been possible to obtain comprehensive information in the time available but such information as it has been possible to obtain is set out in the attached tables. I am seeking further information and will be happy to make it available to the Deputy if he wishes to repeat the question at a future date.
It is my view that semi-State bodies should be encouraged in their efforts to increase overseas earnings. Such activities, as well as constituting a valuable contribution to the creation of employment, help to improve our balance of payments position.
The semi-State bodies involved in projects in developing countries include: Coras Trachtala, ESB, IDA, An Foras Talúntais, An Foras Forbartha, AnCO, Aer Lingus, Bord Failte.
Following is the information:
|
Year |
Nature of Project |
Semi-State Body |
Total Cost |
Cost Borne by |
Organisation in developing country |
Terms on which project carried out |
Number of Staff |
|
1974 |
Feasibility Study on the establishment of a Food Processing Industry (Zambia) |
Irish Sugar Company Limited |
* |
INDECO Ltd., Lusaka, Zambia |
INDECO Ltd. |
* |
4 |
|
1975 |
Housing Project in Saudi Arabia |
An ForasForbartha |
* |
The World Bank |
* |
* |
1 |
|
Market Research Consultancy (Singapore) |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,410 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
* |
Break even |
2 |
|
|
Export Promotion |
Córas |
£1,908 |
International |
Export |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Training (Thailand) |
Tráchtála |
Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Promotion Council— Thailand |
||||
|
Design Trainingtor |
Córas |
£1,722 |
International |
* |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Developing Countries |
Tráchtála |
Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
|||||
|
Evaluation Mission |
Córas |
£4,622 |
International |
Pakistan Design |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
(Pakistan) |
Tráchtála |
Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Centre |
||||
|
Export Promotion |
Córas |
£6,733 |
International |
Institute for |
Break even |
4 |
|
|
Consultancy (Venezuela) |
Tráchtála |
Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Foreign Trade |
||||
|
Export Promotion |
Córas |
£7,494 |
U.N.D.P. |
Institute for |
Break even |
2 |
|
|
Consultancy (El Salvador) |
Tráchtála |
Foreign Trade |
|||||
|
1976 |
Housing Project in |
An Foras |
* |
The World Bank |
* |
* |
1 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Forbartha |
||||||
|
(a) Agricultural Production Improvement |
Irish Sugar Company Limited |
£50,000 |
Maghshe Japan Sugar Company Iran |
Maghshe Japan Sugar Company Iran |
Break even |
6 |
|
|
(b) Factory Processing Improvements |
|||||||
|
(c) Technological Expertise Development |
|||||||
|
Organisation of Regional |
Córas |
£2,034 |
International |
I.T.C. |
Break down |
1 |
|
|
Trade Fair Seminar |
Tráchtála |
Trade Centre |
Sub-Regional |
||||
|
(Lesotho) |
(I.T.C.) |
Programme |
|||||
|
1976 |
Participation in Seminar on Exporting of Services (Brazil) |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,139 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Government of Brazil |
Break even |
1 |
|
Consultancy in Export |
Córas |
£1,365 |
International |
Ministry of |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Promotion (Bangladesh) |
Tráchtála |
Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Industry and Commerce in Bangladesh |
||||
|
Organisation of Workshop on trade publications in Geneva and Dublin |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,038 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Not available |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Organisation of Seminar for Developing Countries in Geneva and Dublin |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,637 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
* |
Break even |
5 |
|
|
Participation in Symposium on trade fair participation (Tanzania) |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,656 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Ministry of Commerce |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Participation in Seminar on Export Promotion (Iraq) |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,102 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Organisation for Arab Economic Co-operation |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
1977 |
Staff Development Programme for the Small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania |
Industrial Development Authority |
£21,040 |
The Small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania |
The Small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania |
Break even |
4 |
|
Staff Development Programme for the Small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania |
AnCO |
£2,100 |
The small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania |
The Small Industries Development Organisation of Tanzania |
Break even |
2 |
|
|
Housing Project in |
An Foras |
* |
The World Bank |
* |
* |
1 |
|
|
Saudi Arabia |
Forbartha |
||||||
|
Participation in Seminar on Export Promotion (Sudan) |
CórasTráchtála |
£982 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Government of Sudan |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Organisation of seminar on trade fair participation (Greece) |
CórasTráchtála |
£905 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Hellenie Export Promotion Council |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Organisation of seminar for heads of export promotion organisations |
CórasTráchtála |
£265 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
* |
Break even |
2 |
|
|
Organisation of Seminar for trade attachés (Greece) |
CórasTráchtála |
£728 |
International Trade Centre (I.T.C.) |
Hellenic Export Promotion Council |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Livestock Development |
An Foras |
£6,263 |
World Bank |
Ministry of |
Commercial |
1 |
|
|
Study (Kenya) |
Talúntais |
Agriculture |
|||||
|
Pre-feasibility Study (Nigeria) |
An Foras Talúntais |
£46,288 |
Nigeria Federal Government |
Owene Ogbesse River Basiu Authority |
Commercial |
6 |
|
|
Feasibility Study (Idah) (Nigeria) |
An ForasTalúntais |
£1,540 |
Diocese of Idah |
Diocese of Idah |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Animal ProductionResearch (Sudan) |
An ForasTalúntais |
£3,324 |
O.D.M. London |
Ministry of Agriculture |
Semi-Commercial |
1 |
|
|
Training (Sudan) |
An ForasTalúntais |
£1,800 |
E.D.F. |
Ministry of Public Administration |
Break even |
Several |
|
|
Seed Production and protected cropping (Egypt) |
An ForasTalúntais |
£1,414 |
World Bank |
Ministry of Agriculture |
Commercial |
1 |
|
|
Fertiliser use (Trinidad and Tobago) |
An ForasTalúntais |
£1,000 |
E.D.F. |
Ministry of Agriculture |
Commercial |
3 |
|
|
Livestock Development (Sudan) |
An ForasTalúntais |
* |
Arab Investment Funds |
Ministry of Agriculture |
Commercial |
20 |
|
|
Re-organisation and development of the Water Supply Directorate of Bahrain |
An ForasForbartha |
* |
Government of Bahrain |
Government of Bahrain |
Commercial |
* |
|
|
Organisation of Seminar for A.C.P. States |
CórasTráchtála |
£18,280 |
E.E.C. |
* |
Break even |
10 |
|
|
Consultancy on establishment of a Foreign Trade Centre (Bangladesh) |
CórasTráchtála |
£32,360 |
E.E.C. |
Export Promotion Bureau |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Organisation of seminar on trade fair participation (Latin American countries) |
CórasTráchtála |
£447 |
International Trade Centre |
* |
Break even |
3 |
|
|
Consultancy on establishment of a Design Centre (Bangladesh) |
CórasTráchtála |
£31,860 |
E.E.C. |
* |
Break even |
3 |
|
|
Visit of Export Promotion Mission (Sri Lanka) |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,500 |
E.E.C. |
* |
Break even |
3 |
|
|
Participation in symposium in Tunis |
CórasTráchtála |
£725 |
International Trade Centre |
* |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Consultancy in Packaging (Philippines) |
CórasTráchtála |
£7,000 |
E.E.C. |
Board of Investments |
Break even |
1 |
|
|
Consultancy in Export Promotion (Zaire) |
CórasTráchtála |
£1,926 |
International Trade Centre |
Government of Zaire |
Break even |
1 |
* Details which were not obtainable in the time available