Vol. 467 No. 7
23 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of people living in the Border counties at the lack of opticfibre cable for high technology telecommunications which is necessary to attract high technology industry; whether he will provide funding for such a development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11902/96]
27 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the current position regarding the proposal to allocate funding under the INTERREG II Programme towards the upgrading of the telecommunications infrastructure in the Border regions; the level of funding, if any, that will be provided; and the projects, if any, that will be undertaken. [14072/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 27 together.
I do not accept the implication that the Border counties are at a disadvantage in the context of optic fibre and digitalisation. I will circulate with the report a list of the 12 main optic fibre routes installed by Telecom Éireann in the Border region in the past ten years and the three routes being installed this year. A further five routes are planned during the next three years. There is, in fact, a long list of high-tech companies located in Border areas.
Detailed investment planning is a day-to-day matter for Telecom Éireann but if the Deputies have a particular case in mind in this instance I will be happy to pass it on.
In December 1995, approval was granted to Telecom Éireann for EU assistance for a number of projects under the INTERREG Programme. These projects involve investment totalling £16 million in fibre optic cabling and exchange replacement and upgrading in the Border counties of Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo; £8 million of the total investment is being provided by the EU.
Optic Fibre Routes in the Border Regions Installed by Telecom Éireann.
Route installed in the last 10 years:
Castleblayney-Ballybay-Monaghan
Bailieboro-Carrickmacross
Cavan-Ballyhaise (Phase 1 of Cavan-Clones-Monaghan route)
Cavan-Belturbet
Dundalk-Ravensdale
Dundalk-Blackrock-Castlebellingham
Letterkenny-Manorcunningham
Letterkenny-Kilmacrennan-Creeslough-Dunfanaghy
Bridgend-Fahan-Buncrana
Bridgend-Muff-Quigley's Point
Letterkenny-Ramelton-Milford
Routes to be installed this year:
Ballyshannon-Bundoran
Lifford-Letterkenny
Ballyhaise-Clones-Monaghan (Phase 2 of Cavan-Clones-Monaghan route)
Routes for optic fibre installation between 1997 and 2000:
Sligo-Donegal-Letterkenny
