Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Jan 1989

Vol. 386 No. 1

Written Answers. - State Agencies Overseas Services.

272.

asked the Minister for Education in respect of the State agencies directly under her 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 she 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.

Overseas consultancy work within the education sector is confined generally to third-level institutions, based mainly on their individual initiatives and contacts abroad. The information available would not enable me to state the number of contracts, or their values, obtained in this manner.

The institutions established HEDCO in 1975 and had it constituted as a limited liability company in 1981. Its major focus in accordance with its articles of association has been on developing co-operation agreements with developing countries with particular reference to the implementation of projects under our own bilateral aid. HEDCO managed work valued at £4.6 million under the bilateral aid programme since 1981 and in addition obtained 12 contracts valued at £3.5 million from other sources, mainly international agencies. Arrangements to establish a mechanism and for discussions with concerned parties with a view to enhancing this activity are in hand.

Barr
Roinn