Brendan Daly
Question:57 Mr. Daly asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the capital investment being undertaken in County Clare in 1999 in the expansion of ISDN and broadband capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8619/99]
Written Answers. - Communications Networks.
The Deputy is aware that the provision of telecommunications infrastructure is primarily a matter for operators in the newly liberalised telecommunications market. In this regard, the Deputy will note the considerable ongoing investment by Telecom Éireann in the Ennis information age town project.
Recognising that in certain regions of the country, competition alone will not provide the required broadband telecommunications' infrastructural investment, I recently sought proposals for projects supporting the development of advanced communications networks and services which might be co-funded by European Union funding. Unfortunately no suitable proposals were received relating to Clare.
However, my Department, together with Forfás, is currently preparing estimates of further funding requirements to ensure nationwide broadband connectivity. All regions will be considered in this review.