Selling state assets - Invest sale proceeds in this country

IT now seems unavoidable that minority stakes — at the very least — in pivotal semi-state companies will be sold to try to sustain investment in essential capital projects.

Though nothing is finalised it is believed that work is progressing well on plans to sell minority interests in the ESB and Bord Gáis.

The process, under the management of the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA), is expected to reach a position some time in the autumn and it is hoped that at least €2 billion might be raised to finance vital work in water supplies and broadband.