Vol. 547 No. 1
190 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she will make a decision regarding tenders for Structural Funds; and if a national telecommunications fibre link from Dublin to Cork and Cork to Galway will form part of the decision. [1094/02]
My Department has responsibility for the communications and e-commerce measure of the National Development Plan. Under the national development plan 2000-2006, the figure allocated to telecommunications initiatives was 200 million. A first call for proposals was run in 2000 and on foot of submissions received, I signed nine contracts at the beginning of last year which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure.
At the beginning of August 2001 I announced a second call for proposals. The deadline for receipt of proposals was 19 October 2001. In all 31 proposals have been received. The proposals are being independently evaluated according to the criteria set out in the invitation to tender document. It is expected that the evaluation committee will make formal recommendations early this year. Details of these programmes are available on the Internet at www.ndpcomms.gov.ie
