Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Jan 1998

Vol. 486 No. 1

Written Answers. - Communications Masts.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

754 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by residents of the town of Skibbereen, County Cork due to the establishment of a mobile phone mast at the Garda station in view of the guidelines which prescribed that these masts should not be in the middle of residential areas or close to schools; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the mast in Skibbereen is in the middle of a residential area and close to the proposed location of the Gaelscoil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1306/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The position is that Esat Digifone, the second licensed mobile telephone operator, approached the Garda Síochána with a proposal to co-locate their equipment on Garda radio masts or sites in return for the provision of strategically important services to the gardaí and the payment of full commercial rent. In accordance with the desire to avoid a proliferation of such masts and to promote the sharing of masts by different operators, the previous Government approved the proposal, subject to Esat Digifone complying fully with planning requirements, health and safety legislation, the Radiological Protection Act and all relevant guidelines which may be set down from time to time by the International Radiation Protection Association.

The Deputy will appreciate that the issue of whether a particular structure such as a communication mast and antennae should or should not be located at any particular place is a matter to be decided by the planning authorities in accordance with the planning laws and is not something on which it would be appropriate for me to comment.