asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if Aer Lingus was involved in projects in developing countries during 1978 and, if so, in the case of each project, (i) the nature of the project, (ii) if the project was funded from the bilateral aid programme of his Department, if not, by whom the cost was borne, (iii) the total cost, (iv) if the projects were carried out on break-even, semi-commercial or commercial terms and (v) the number of Aer Lingus employees involved in each project.
Written Answers. - Aer Lingus Overseas Projects.
340.
The main projects undertaken by Aer Lingus in 1978 were as follows:
1. Nature of the Projects
(i) Algeria: A maintenance management contract with Air Algerie and subsequently component overhaul and training including B737 pilot training on the Aer Lingus simulator.
(ii) Cameroons: Aircraft leasing and subsequently B737 component overhaul.
(iii) Egypt: Aircraft leasing, component overhaul, computer time leasing (Egyptair).
(iv) Libya: Training at Dublin for Libyan airline staff.
(v) Morocco: Secondment of engineers, training and aircraft maintenance.
(vi) Nigeria: Secondment of engineers plus aircraft maintenance.
(vii) Sudan: Component overhaul training and simulator.
(viii) Zaire: Aircraft leasing, workshop development and component overhaul.
(ix) Zambia: Comprehensive contract including aircraft leasing, management and other training, secondment of staff.
(x) Kenya: Management services and part time aircraft leasing.
(xi) Southern African Countries: Training programme at Dublin Airport for personnel of Namibia and other Southern African States.
(xii) Swaziland: Assistance to Royal Swazi Airlines.
(xiii) Lesotho: Assistance to Lesotho Airways.
2. Funding of Projects
The contracts are all paid for directly by the airlines receiving service from Aer Lingus, with the following exceptions:— the training programme for personnel of Southern African countries was funded mainly by the United Nations; assistance to both Royal Swazi Airlines and Lesotho Airways was made available from the Bilateral Aid Programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs; and, in the case of Lesotho Airways, however, the project was mainly funded by EEC Third World Development Aid.
3. Total Costs Involved
In view of the commercial considerations involved, it would not be appropriate to publish information on the costs involved.
4. Terms of Projects
For the reasons given in paragraph 3 above, it would not be appropriate to publish information on the terms on which the projects were undertaken.
5. Number of Aer Lingus Employees involved in each Project
It is not possible to define the number of persons involved in a meaningful way. Some of the contracts involve locating staff abroad for varying periods but the greatest staff involvement is at Dublin Airport in the training and maintenance field. In the maintenance field Aer Lingus estimate that up to 700 staff are engaged in work for other airlines but this, of course, includes work for developed as well as developing countries.