Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 5

Written Answers - Telecommunications Services.

Brendan Smith

Question:

86 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the progress to date in relation to the provision of broadband telecommunications to the Border region, particularly Counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11295/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

The provision of telecommunications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the companies 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. Applications for funding under this call were assessed and evaluated at arms length by independent consultants. In January, I announced nine projects that are now going ahead and will receive a total of £44.6 million in national development plan aid. Two of these pro jects involve the deployment of broadband services along the Border region.

The Border midlands west broadband corridor being built by Chorus involves the construction of two broadband corridors. The first of these links Castlebar to Buncrana, via Ballina, Sligo, Donegal and Letterkenny, and the second links Athlone to Monaghan, via Mullingar and Cavan. Other upgrades will be made to communications infrastructure in Galway, Ballinasloe, Tullamore, Longford, Sligo and Dublin. The cost of the Chorus Border midlands 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 31 December 2002.

The second project is being built by ESB International. This project involves the deployment of up to 1,107 kilometres of fibre optic cable to 17 locations around the country by means of a fibre wrap on the existing electricity network. The infrastructure will provide for services in both Cavan and Monaghan. The cost of the ESBI project will amount to £38.8 million and the NDP aid awarded to this project is £13.1 million. The project is due to be completed by 31 December 2002. My Department is now reviewing future infrastructure investment needs in the light of the results of this first call for proposals.