Written Answers. - Euro Changeover.
Rory O'Hanlon
Ceist:
841
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands
the extent to which her Department is prepared for the introduction of the euro; if she will ensure that the replies to future parliamentary questions show all monetary values in euros and pounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[21901/01]
My Department has taken the following steps to ensure a smooth transition of all of its operations to the euro:
1.Euro changeover plan
My Department has prepared a euro changeover plan in which critical tasks and dates are outlined. This plan covers items such as accounting systems, salaries-wages and receipts
2.Internal committee on the euro
An internal committee on the euro was established in 2000. This committee, which meets monthly, is chaired at assistant secretary level, and has representatives from all the divisions within my Department which will be affected by the euro.
3.External reporting
My Department is represented at monthly meetings chaired by the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland of the single currency officers team – SCOT – where issues affecting all Government Departments are discussed and resolved.
4.Accounting systems and payroll
All conversion programmes for the accounts payable have been completed and euro testing is now in progress. All cheques issued to suppliers show the euro equivalent amount on the counterfoil. The salaries system has been converted to COREPAY and my Department, in recently going live on the euro version, was one of the first to do so. A simple ready reckoner, which will do conversions for euro and punts, was included in all pay cheque envelopes. Testing in regard to the euro compliance of the industrial wages system has commenced.
5.Bodies under the aegis of my Department.
All bodies under my Department's aegis have responded positively to a questionnaire in relation to their preparation for the euro and my Department is satisfied that their preparations are on target. Progress in the bodies is being monitored through the internal euro committee.
6.Services to the public, admission charges and signage
In line with the national voluntary code of practice for euro changeover, all prices will have dual display from 1 October 2001 until 9 March 2002. Many publications already have dual display of price.
All franchise holders, for example tea-rooms, in heritage sites have been contacted and have indicated a willingness to comply with the voluntary code of practice.
A revised list of admission charges has been drawn up and I have issued instructions that there will be no increase in charges before 2003.
Tenders have been sought for the supply of euro compliant cash registers for certain heritage sites.
7.Training
To date 747 staff have received training on the euro. The Irish version of the euro training pack has proved very successful in the training of staff in Gaeltacht areas. Some staff of my Department have attended a training course, organised by the Central Bank, on security features of the new currency. This information will be disseminated to all staff with cash handling responsibilities.
8.Grants and fixed charges
My Department favours convenient euro amounts for housing grants and turf cutting compensation payments, and are liaising with the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in this regard. The outcome of these discussions will be cleared with the Department of Finance.
9.Other preparations
My Department has ordered retail kits from Forfás to help cash handlers. Also literature from the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland has been distributed to staff as appropriate.
In relation to the matter of showing monetary values to future parliamentary questions, I have asked my Department to arrange that, except where the context clearly requires otherwise, between now and 1 January 2002, and a reasonable period thereafter, all monetary values be shown in euro and Irish pounds.
