Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Unfortunately, that answer does not tell me any more than I already know about the international content services centre. The programme for Government states that budgetary support is being committed for six priority areas in the knowledge society report, one of which is the establishment of an international content services centre in co-operation between the digital hub and the IDA. The Labour Party supports that, but what level of budgetary support is being provided for the international content services centre? When will it be established?

In a report dated 23 July 2009, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced that the international content services centre would be established in 2010. Will it be established this year? If so, where will it be located and how many jobs will it generate? I am inclined to agree with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, when he says that it has the potential to create thousands of jobs. It is an IFSC-type idea for digital content and has huge potential. The only problem is that we have not seen much evidence of the Government doing anything to follow through on it. Can the Taoiseach answer those questions? What level of budgetary support has been, or is being, provided for this? Will it be established in 2010 and, if so, where and what is the estimate for the number of jobs it will create? Is anything being done about it?

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