Vol. 534 No. 3
95 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the telecommunications infrastructure which is in place at present in the towns of County Monaghan; the plans she has for new infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10582/01]
The provision of telecommunications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the companies who 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 1994-1999, £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, 2000-2006, to £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 2000-2006 closed on 22 September 2000. My Department received 28 applications for funding under this call. These were assessed and evaluated at arms length by independent consultants. In January I announced the successful 13 projects that will receive a total of £59 million in national development plan aid. One of these projects involves the deployment of broadband infrastructure in Monaghan and other regional locations.
The Border Midlands West broadband corridor being built by Chorus involves the construction of two broadband corridors, the first links Castlebar to Buncrana via Ballina, Sligo, Donegal and Letterkenny, the second corridor links Athlone to Monaghan via Mullingar. Other upgrades will be made to communications infrastructure in Galway, Ballinasloe, Tullamore, Longford, Sligo and Dublin.
The cost of the Chorus Border Midland West broadband corridor will amount to £14 million and the NDP aid awarded to this project will be £4.6 million. The project is due to be completed by the 31 December 2002.
96 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position regarding the provision of ASDL infrastructure; when it will be available in the Border counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10583/01]
The provision of telecommunications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the companies who 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 1994-1999, £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, 2000-2006, to £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 2000-2006 closed on 22 September 2000. My Department received twenty-eight applications for funding under this call. These were assessed and evaluated at arms length by independent consultants. In January I announced the successful 13 projects that will receive a total of £59 million in national development plan aid.
One of these projects involving the deployment of ADSL infrastructure was offered to Eircom. The total cost of the Eircom project was £36.7 million and the NDP aid level was £12.4 million. Eircom has yet to formally notify my Department as to its intention in regard to this project. Two of the other projects, Chorus and ESBI, are deploying broadband technologies and services in the Border counties.
My Department is now reviewing future infrastructure investment needs in the light of the results of this first call for proposals.
