THE EMU Business Awareness Campaign aims to harness the resources of professional and business associations in "spreading the word" about EMU.

The amount of public money set aside for general EMU awareness programmes over the coming 12 months is £300,000. But the business awareness programme is expected to benefit significantly from the input from associations.

The network of support which has been set up will be of special benefit to small firms which might not otherwise be able to afford the expertise needed, according to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Richard Bruton.

The National Information Programme is under the auspices of the Department of Finance and an informal group on EMU has been established.

It consists of representatives of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Bankers Federation, the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Insurance Federation, the Irish Mortgage and Savings Association, the Irish Stock Exchange, the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (Ireland), the Central Bank and the Director of Consumer Affairs.

The Business Awareness Campaign includes the following elements:

. a designated EMU information Web site on the Internet;

. close working collaboration with business associations and professional bodies;

. the distribution of information packs to Irish businesses;

. regular updates on EMU developments;

. advice on how companies should best prepare for EMU.

As part of the campaign a series of information leaflets will be published and distributed to help companies plan for EMU.

They will focus on the practical implications for business and on the issues that are of concern to small and medium-sized enterprises.