An Post has appointed Cap Gemini to help it prepare for 2000, which it estimates will cost up to £7 million. This figure covers internal resources and external assistance, as well as any facilities required to complete the project.

Cap Gemini, which employs 100 people at its Dublin office, will help to co-ordinate preparations for the date change across all of An Post's subsidiary companies. The company has worked with An Post to develop a complete inventory of business systems, from payroll to postal delivery, and will support An Post in achieving its objective of completing the project by December 1998.