The range of applications covers many sectors including: tourism, publishing, advertising, education, and entertainment. Almost all software applications currently being developed use visual imagery rather than textual information only. Irish multimedia development companies are springing up and are looking for graduates with a combination of technical and creative skills. At present, there are approximately 100 indigenous multimedia companies and many multi-nationals are setting development teams in Ireland offering multimedia services to overseas clients. To date, multimedia companies have recruited experienced personnel from abroad or have accepted graduates from one discipline and trained them in a complementary discipline: for example, a computer science graduate training as a graphic designer and vice versa. In order for Irish-based multimedia companies to be competitive with their overseas equivalents, a pool of trained graduates must be available to these companies. The cost of in-house training is high and affects the competitiveness of these companies. There is a national shortage of graduates with multi-disciplinary skills in the information technology and related industries.