asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce in respect of the State agencies directly under his aegis, the action which they have taken to establish a five-year development plan to develop overseas services on a consultancy basis relating to the skills and experience of the State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter indicating (a) the number of contracts, if any, which have been obtained and (b) the approximate value of the work which has been obtained.
Written Answers. - State Agencies Overseas Services.
168.
In line with the objectives relating to overseas consultancies by State agencies, set out in the Programme for National Recovery, I announced on 9 January 1989 the establishment of a new company — International Development Ireland Limited — to carry out the existing and future international consultancy activities of Córas Tráchtála, the Industrial Credit Corporation plc., the Industrial Development Authority and Shannon Free Airport Development Company Ltd. The company has an initial share capital of £1 million financed from the existing budgets of the State agencies.
The formation of the new company will provide a clear focus for exploiting the substantial business potential in this area. It will also ensure more effective marketing and delivery, avoid duplication, reduce promotional costs and facilitate much greater growth of international development consultancy for Ireland. The company's aim is to increase turnover from £2 million in 1988 to £6 million in 1991.
169.
asked the Minister for Communications in respect of the State agencies directly under his aegis, the action which they have taken to establish a five-year development plan to develop overseas services on a consultancy basis relating to the skills and experience of the State agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter indicating (a) the number of contracts, if any, which have been obtained and (b) the approximate value of the work which has been obtained.
Bord Telecom Éireann has set up a unit called, Telecom Éireann Services International (TESI), to develop business of a consultancy nature. Much work has been done to date in setting up the necessary mechanisms to support and market the company's services overseas. The emphasis has been mainly on marketing training services and engineering expertise. Where possible, TESI has linked up with other, longer established consultants and also with major international agencies such as the EC and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). TESI has also won a number of contracts directly, e.g. training in Saudi Arabia, rural automisation in Uganda and a large contract in local plant construction and exchange maintenance in Britain. Among the other countries which have made use of TESI's services are: Kenya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Bulgaria and the USA. The business is still young and at the development phase but turnover to date totals more than £6 million covering more than 100 successful projects-training jobs. RTE has no formal development plan to develop overseas consultancy services. Through international broadcasting contacts RTE engages from time to time in such consultancy projects. However, no contracts have been obtained in the recent past.
An Post is at present assessing the area of consultancy work and, as an initial step, it has joined DEVCO with the objective of identifying potential opportunities for such work.