Vol. 519 No. 5
111 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself with the level of telecommunication infrastructure available to counties such as Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14075/00]
113 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if there exists at present an equality of opportunity for all regions of the country for quality and competitive telecommunications infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14077/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 113 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the provision of telecommunications infrastructure is primarily a matter for operators in the newly liberalised telecommunications market. Recognising that in certain regions of the country, competition alone will not provide the required advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services investment, 13 projects – details following – supporting the development of advanced telecommunications networks are being co-funded under the INTERREG II and economic infrastructure operational programmes. These entail approximately 26 million euro of European funding, leveraging a further 42 million euros of private sector investment.
These projects were selected following open competitive calls for projects and all are to be completed by 31 December 2000.
|
Tenderer |
Project Description |
Total Investmentm |
EIOP Fundingm |
% Aid rate |
|
|
Cablelink |
Deployment of fibre optic cable from the Cablelink headend at Terenure to a node at Belgard Road in order to serve SMEs in the Tallaght area. |
2.2 |
1.0 |
45.5 |
|
|
CMI |
Design and construction of a hybrid fibre coaxial infrastructure in Castlebar |
1.65 |
0.777 |
47.0 |
|
|
Eircom |
Development of high capacity fibre optic infrastructure in 75 towns along the west coast from Sligo to West Cork.Eircom state that the percentage of rural customers with access to the national broadband network in the region will increase from 50% to 70% as a result of this project. |
13.42 |
5.723 |
42.6 |
|
|
Eircom |
Provision of optical fibre cable along a 32 km link on a route connecting Galway and Castlebar (linking Westport, Aille, Ballinrobe, Kilconly, Kilmaine, Tuam and Claregalway) and a 40 km link between Birr and Tullamore improving access to broadband infrastructure and services |
1.693 |
0.796 |
47.0 |
|
|
Esat Telecom |
Roll-out of fibre optic cable in urban areas including Cork, Galway, Dundalk, Thurles, Carlow, Tralee, Athlone, Sligo, Maynooth, Letterkenny and Limerick |
4.2 |
1.9 |
45.2 |
|
|
Esat Telecom |
Extension of Esat's national fibre optic network to Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo covering the towns of Athlone, Ballina, Claremorris, Roscommon, Castlerea, Ballyhaunis, Sligo and Collooney. |
5.0 |
1.9 |
38.0 |
|
|
Esat Telecom |
Extension of Esat's national fibre optic network from Cork to Little Island to Carrigtwohill (21 kms) |
1.22 |
0.573 |
47.0 |
|
|
HEAnet |
HEAnet is a not-for-profit organisation delivering managed broadband services to over 30 educational-research institutions throughout the StateHEAnet will redesign and upgrade its network infrastructure, to provide an all-Ireland architecture, on a par with other EU countries. |
2.22 |
1.0 |
45.0 |
|
|
Irish Multichannel |
To provide 114 km of optical fibre network linking the towns of Ennis, Shannon, Limerick, Kilmallock, Charleville, Mallow and Cork enabling the delivery of broadband services in these areas. |
7.736 |
1.143 |
45.8 |
|
|
Ocean |
Construction of a high capacity fibre optic digital corridor linking Dublin, Athlone, Galway and Shannon and 30 locations enroute. |
17.46 |
6.0 |
34.4 |
|
|
Suir Nore Relays |
Hybrid Fibre Co-axial cable upgrades and Digital MMDS upgrades in Clonmel and Kilkenny |
4.41 |
2.0 |
45.4 |
|
|
Suir Nore Relays |
Proposal to upgrade and extend existing cable network in Thurles to provide broadband infrastructure and services addressing business, educational and residential sectors.It is also proposed to develop an SME broadband Centre in Thurles to stimulate the demand for broadband services in the area |
2.724 |
1.143 |
42.0 |
|
|
Total investment |
63.933 |
23.955 |
37.5 |
|
Tenderer |
Project Description |
Total Investmentm |
INTERREGFundingm |
% Aid rate |
|
Eircom |
Installation of a 95 km high capacity fibre optic cable along the west coast of Donegal, from Bunbeg to Donegal town and from Dunfanaghy to Falcarragh serving all communities (up to 71,000 people) along the route.In addition, Eircom propose to provide 0.3 m from its own resources to help establish two Technology Information Communication Centres (TICCs) in Donegal which will provde IT and telecommunications services to local communities and businesses and also raise awareness. The TICCs will develop cross-border links with a number of similar STAR centres in Northern Ireland. |
4.737 |
2.3685 |
50 |
112 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if line leasing for companies is competitive in all regions of the country or if there are disparities; and the plans, if any, she has to address this matter. [14076/00]
The telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1 December 1998. The provision of leased lines is a matter for commercial negotiation between the relevant parties. Under the European Communities (Leased Lines) Regulations, 1998, the director of telecommunications regulation is responsible for assessing the relevant leased lines market, on the basis of the type of leased lines offered in a particular geographic area which may include the whole or part of the territory of the State.
The director is further obliged to ensure that at least one company is obliged to provide leased lines at every point in the territory of the State. In general, charges for leased lines in such circumstances must follow the principles of cost orientation and transparency and must be independent of the type of application the users of the leased lines implement. The director may also intervene in the event of a dispute between the negotiating parties and make a decision following appropriate adjudication. I consider the powers of the director to be adequate in this regard to ensure the appropriate level of service and cost orientation.
