IRISH COMPANIES are being encouraged to bid for nearly £2 billion (€2.28 billion) worth of contracts for the London Olympics, including food, security and software, due to be awarded in coming months.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Batt O’Keeffe yesterday met with Irish construction firms who have won £200 million worth of business on the Olympics site in east London.

Following discussion with executives from John Sisk Son, Elliotts and the Jones Group on site, Mr O’Keeffe said: “They are doing exceptionally well. We are moving into the next phase, services, catering, security, the supply of hardware and software. Today, we weren’t told what the budget will be, but it will be well over £2 billion. None of those contracts have yet been awarded,” he said.

Enterprise Ireland next week will hold briefings for Irish firms interested in competing for the business and to build co-operation between them so that they can bid collectively.

“It is particularly important to us that we would gain experience and knowledge this time for Brazil, one of the emerging high-growth markets which will have the next World Cup.

“If Irish companies had the experience of the Olympic development here they would be very much fit for purpose for Brazil and France, which will have the 2016 European Championships,” he said.

Irish construction firms which have won business to date have experience and contacts useful for the next round of contracts, said Enterprise Ireland’s Kevin Sherry: “They are inside the tent. We have strong companies. In security, we have companies with strong experience with security software. Security is an extremely important issue for them. We have very strong food companies.”

During his visit, Mr O’Keeffe hosted a dinner in the Irish embassy for 100 people involved in renewable energy in the United Kingdom.

“The UK will spend £100 billion over next nine years on renewable energies. That is a massive spend. Irish companies would have quite extensive expertise,” said the Minister.

Two Irish energy companies, Kedco and Cleanpower, have already won Olympic business, with the latter having built a 3MW boiler powered by waste on site.