Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

316 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the situation in County Galway regarding the laying of fibre optic cable in Connemara; the reason the town of Clifden is not included in the current works; the further reason there is no connection being laid to Carna, Connemara to facilitate the National University of Ireland, Galway complex where major capital expenditure has been incurred recently in providing facilities there for the Irish language degree course and other courses; and if she will give an indication that both Clifden and Carna will be served by the laying of the fibre optic cable to those locations. [2320/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The provision of telecommunications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the companies which now operate in a fully liberalised market. My responsibility is for public policy in the sector within which these companies operate. The widest possible availability of competitive services has traditionally been an important objective of Irish telecommunications policy. I have, in recent years, put in place a number of initiatives which seek to address gaps in communications infrastructure in Ireland, particularly those in rural areas.

Under the National Development Plan 1994-99, IR£21 million was made available to support the roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure to the regions. This figure has been significantly increased under the National Development Plan, 2000-06, to IR£147 million. This funding will be utilised to leverage and accelerate investment in competitive advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services in the regions.

The first call for proposals under the National Development Plan 2000-06 closed on 22 September 2000. The Department received 28 applications for funding under this call and I recently announced the successful 13 projects that will receive a total of IR£59 million in NDP aid. Unfortunately, no applications were received for Connemara, Clifden or Carna. My Department is now reviewing future infrastructure investment needs in the light of the results of this first call for proposals and I expect to announce further initiatives to address gaps in communications infrastructure in rural areas later this year.