Irish small and medium-sized enterprises are more interested in the cost savings information technology might bring than the revenues it could generate, according to a new survey. It says companies resist new technology and have a poor understanding of the wider applications of electronic commerce.

The survey was conducted by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland. To tackle the reluctance to embrace the Information Age, an initiative has been launched aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of the Internet as a business tool. The Prism Project, launched yesterday by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, will be managed by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland with sponsorship of around £150,000 from Telecom Eireann.

Internet business strategy training programmes will be offered to small and medium businesses throughout the Republic. Telecom Eireann has said it will deploy staff to assist the project.

They will offer technical expertise, including project management, at a number of Internet information evenings throughout the State. They will also provide and install ISDN lines in all the participating chambers of commerce.

The goal of the project is to assist up to 500 small firms develop an Internet presence, heighten Internet awareness among 3,000 small firms and construct an intranet linking the participating chambers of commerce. The planning for the project began in June last year, with six chambers participating in a pilot phase. The final 10 chambers will finish their training next month. So far 750 businesses have attended Internet information evenings and 40 of these are being trained in Internet business strategy.