Vol. 504 No. 5
42 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if Ireland is adequately prepared to develop and sustain the e-commerce developments and market demands; the current infrastructures and identified further requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11943/99]
The Government is determined to ensure that Irish business will be at the heart of the information technology and e-commerce revolution and have taken a number of key initiatives in this regard.
Telecommunications infrastructure is vital to the development of e-commerce and the Government recently approved the formation of a public private partnership to significantly enhance Ireland's connectivity to the global broadband network. This, together with increased competition in the newly liberalised Irish telecommunications sector, is expected to deliver the necessary competitive low cost telecommunications charges to Irish business.
On the skills front, the Government has allocated a total of IR£365 million to various educational initiatives designed to provide an additional 5,400 new third-level college places in high technology courses over the next four years. My Department has also allocated an additional £3.2 million to FÁS in 1999 to provide an additional 730 places in electronics and software courses. FÁS is also participating in the recently launched fast track to information technology initiative to help some 3,500 long-term unemployed persons to secure a job in the information technology industry.
