A number of indigenous and multinational technology companies are participating in a new recruitment drive, targeted at female school leavers. Devised by Mr Seamus Gallen, academic liaison officer with the National Software Directorate, the programme encourages young girls to consider a career in computing. The aim is to boost the proportion of women entering technical careers which currently stands at just 30 per cent. This figure has not increased in four years despite the booming prospects on offer to graduates in the sector.

Under the programme, women post-graduates employed directly in software development or engineering make presentations to final year students prior to filling out CAO forms. Some 50 speakers from 15 companies are involved in the presentations to around 60 Dublin schools. Participating companies include Lionbridge Technologies, Iona Technologies, Euristix, Peregrine, IBM, Lotus and Ericsson.