Vol. 548 No. 2
72 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if a company (details supplied) has requested financial assistance to provide a service to prospective customers living in remote rural areas where services are not being provided due to the prohibitive cost involved; if she will consult with this company to ascertain if a satisfactory solution can be found; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4094/02]
The provision of telecommunications services, including Internet services, is a matter in the first instance for the companies who now operate in a fully liberalised communications market, regulated by the independent Director of Telecommunications Regulation. My responsibility is for public policy in the sector within which these companies operate. My Department has responsibility for the communications and e-commerce measure of the national development plan which aims to promote investment in advanced communications infrastructure in the less developed regions of the country.
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 were made on a confidential basis from both private and public sector organisations. The proposals are currently being independently evaluated according to the criteria set out in the invitation to tender document and it is expected that the evaluation committee will make formal recommendations in the coming weeks. The successful projects will be announced when contracts have been signed.
Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 55.
