asked the Minister for Communications the progress which has been made on the implementation of the development proposals for RTE contained in the Programme for National Recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19.
Written Answers. - Development Proposals for State-Sponsored Bodies.
13.
asked the Minister for Communications the progress which has been made on the implementation of the development plans for An Post contained in the Programme for National Recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21.
asked the Minister for Communications the progress which has been made on the implementation of the development plans for Telecom Éireann contained in the Programme for National Recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 19 and 21 together. The information sought by the Deputies is contained in tabular statements, which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
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Reference in Programme for National Recovery |
Item |
Progress |
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AN POST |
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|
Appendix to Programme |
The possible development of Banking and Retail Services. |
A Steering Group is evaluating proposals drawn up by An Post and hope to make recommendations at an early date. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The development of a mail order service. |
An Post is encouraging development in this area by the provision and improvement of a number of services to the mail order industry. The facility to pre-pay customs duty on mail order items to the USA was introduced in August 1988. An Post has established an international mails function with responsibility for the design and implementation of mail packages to meet specific needs. An international Business Reply Service to 13 European countries has been introduced. Reductions have recently been announced in the rates for “Publicity Post”. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The re-building of the Parcels-Express Mail Service. |
An Post has launched a programme to revitalise and rationalise its parcels service involving, inter alia, the transfer of operations from the Central Sorting Office, Sheriff Street, Dublin, to a newly acquired parcels depot at Naas Road, Clondalkin. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The provision of an Electronic Mail Service. |
The electronic mail service has been launched under the title “POSTEDI”, “Postnet” and “Telelist”. Eight new skilled jobs have been created in An Post. A further eight similar posts are expected to be created over the next year. Contractors employed on behalf of the electronic mail service have created three new jobs. |
|
Section V, paragraph 6 |
State-sponsored bodies to develop and diversify their economic employment creating activities. |
Following on the decision of the Bank of Ireland to withdraw from the operation of the Prize Bonds Scheme the franchise to run it is being granted to a company joint. The scheme will provide 31 longer term posts, four of which will be in Dublin. |
|
Section V, paragraph 30 |
Job creation. |
The introduction of the An Post National Lottery Game “Lotto” is directly responsible for the creation of 28 new jobs in G-Tech (Ireland) Corporation. |
|
Section V, paragraph 31 |
State Agencies Overseas Consultancies. |
An Post is assessing the area of consultancy work and as an initial step the company has jointed DEVCO with the objective of identifying potential opportunities for such work. |
|
RTE Appendix to Programme |
The development of a £4 million joint project between RTE and Radio Luxembourg to establish a new long-wave radio service operating from Ireland with the potential to generate £3 million per year in advertising revenue. The new project will involve the creation of 25 permanent jobs apart from those involved initially in construction activity. |
The new station — Atlantic 252 — commenced broadcasting on 1 September, 1989. Twenty-two people are currently employed by the station. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The diversion of £1 million in funds to the independent film/video producing sector to assist in RTE's strategy of more home- produced programmes. |
RTE spent £2.0 million in 1988 on acquisition of independently produced programmes using the services of about 20 companies which employ 60-80 people full time and an equal number of freelance workers. A budget of £2.2 million has been set aside for independent programme acquisition in RTE. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
The provision with Údarás na Gaeltachta of a programme-post- production facility in the Gaeltacht providing up to four jobs initially. |
RTE and An tÚdarás have set up a facilities house which will attract independent producers. The facility has been equipped with modern television and audio post-production facilities. It houses a specialist dubbing theatre which has been designed specifically to re-voice foreign language programmes particularly children's programmes into Irish. The company has been commissioned by RTE to provide 5.5 hours of an Irish language production. The company is currently auditioning local Irish speaking actors to play suitable parts and has employed Irish speaking script writers to translate the original German scripts. It expects to provide work for a pool of up to 30 actors and scriptwriters in addition to the permanent employment of eight persons. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Marketing of RTE computer software internationally |
Exploration of the computer software market for specialist broadcasting industry programmes devised by RTE |
|
Section V paragraph 30 |
Job creation |
has continued and there is now very active interest in the UK for both the library management system and advertising sales system currently in use by RTE. This interest is being fostered by demonstrations both here and in the UK and RTE is confident that a modest but worthwhile market will be opened up for its basic systems. |
|
Since the commencement of the programme for national recovery a total of 81 posts have been created on a contract basis either/or run of programmes or term contracts to work on the development of home produced programmes. RTE also expect to recruit 22 to the Oireachtas before the end of January, 1990. |
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|
TELECOM ÉIREANN |
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|
Section V, paragraph 7 |
To bring down the existing high costs |
The following reduction in international telephone call charges, with effect from 1 Oct. 1988 have been made by BTE. 20 per cent reduction to EC countries and Switzerland 25 per cent reduction to North America and 30 per cent reduction to Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Africa. |
|
The following reductions in cross-channel telephone charges and in Eircell rental charges took effect from 1/10/89 direct dialled cross-channel calls. |
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|
20 per cent reduction — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays 10 per cent reduction — 6 p.m. to 12 midnight, weekdays and public holiday 40 per cent reduction — 12 midnight to 8 a.m. every day. Eircell |
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|
Rental reduced from £35 to £25 per month. |
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|
Section V, paragraph 30 |
Creation of new jobs |
BTE has recruited 14 additional middle and junior management staff. |
|
Section V, paragraph 31 and Appendix to Programme |
Overseas Consultancies |
BTE set up Telecom Éireann Services International (TESI) in 1985 to provide consultancy services and training facilities to foreign telephone companies. TESI has completed projects in S |
|
TESI have recently secured a contract with British Telecom to provide engineering staff to carry out installation operations and maintenance work in the City of London District. The number of staff currently engaged on the British Telecom contract is over 465. There are two members of staff on consultancy work in the USA at present, one in Mozambique, one in Abu Dhabi, one in Kenya, one in Nepal and one in the UK. |
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(ii) BTE and its associate company, Broadcom Éireann Research Ltd. have recently secured a number of R & D contracts under various European Commission research programmes. The contracts secured by Telecom Éireann are (a) DIVIDEND, which is an application pilot project for broadband services in the financial services area. It is being undertaken within a consortium of operators, manufacturers and banks, and addresses the use of vision services in “dealing rooms”. It represents two man-years of research for Telecom Éireann staff over four years and is 50% funded by the EC and (b) CTS/2 which is a project to develop software test tools for the 400 message handling protocols and to implement a Reference Test Lab. for these protocols in Ireland. It is being undertaken jointly with Jutland Telephone Company and represents about six man-years of research for Telecom Éireann staff over two years. It is 50 per cent funded by the EC. |
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|
The contracts secured by Broadcom Éireann Research Ltd. are (a) RISE which is a project in the RACE Programme in the area of integrated service engineering. It will investigate the feasibility of defining generic service modules which could be subsequently assembled to form specific services. It is 100 per cent funded by the EC and represents three man-years of work for Broadcom over one year and (b) TERRACE which is a project to develop a functional reference model of Network Management for the future integrated broadband networks. It represents two man-years of work for Broadcom over four years and is 50 per cent funded by the EC. |
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|
Appendix to Programme |
Development of terminals market |
Telecom Éireann Information Systems (TEIS) is continuing to pursue opportunities in the telecommunications terminal market and new product lines were recently introduced. Consideration by BTE of a report prepared by a firm of international consultants (appointed to assist in identifying new business areas offering potential for appropriate ventures) has now been completed and a Business Development Directorate has been established within the company to examine and develop new business opportunities. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Develop a data entry service aimed at specific overseas markets |
In-house data entry system have been developed to a stage where they currently employ up to 40 staff and this resource is being marketed abroad at present. |
|
Appendix to Programme |
Expand BTE contract work in the areas of cabling and private networks |
The company has installed a national data network for the national lottery to serve the lotto system. One thousand seven hundred and eighty-four terminals have been installed and maintenance of lotto equipment at retail outlets has given rise to seven new jobs. The company has also provided cabling for local TV dissemination for cable television companies in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. |
|
Appendix |
Expand BTE work in the area of new enterprises |
BTE are actively pursuing the introduction of two new enterprises. (i) an enhanced alarm transmission service (Tele-Alarm) will be introduced on a trial basis in the next four-five months. (ii) A new consumer survey will be issued with telephone bills in January 1990. The purpose of this survey, called The Irish Way of Living Survey, is to compile an information database on the Irish consumer. This information will be held by the company and will be made available to firms seeking to market goods and services in the Irish market-place. It is not possible, at this stage to give definite figures in relation to the job creation potential of these new enterprises but it is estimated that they are likely to generate at least ten new jobs between them. |