Jim O'Keeffe
Question:117 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position regarding additional telecommunications infrastructure; and the results of the tender process. [4540/02]
Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.
The figure allocated to telecom munications initiatives has been significantly increased under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, to €200 million. Two-thirds of this allocation will be spent in the Border, midlands and west region and one-third in the south and east region. A first call for proposals was run in 2000 and on foot of submissions received I signed nine contracts for grant assistance of €55 million at the beginning of 2001 which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure. The projects involved will be completed over the next two years and will entail overall investment of €160 million in broadband in the regions. Additional services involving a number of broadband technologies will be provided throughout the regions by ESAT, Chorus, Nevadatele, Crossan Cable and ESB Telecom. Additional details of these projects are available at www.ndpcomms.gov.ie
I ran a second call for proposals last year with a submission date for proposals at the end of October 2001. The second call, as well as seeking private sector submissions, allowed for submissions by local authorities to provide open-access telecommunications infrastructure. Proposals received have been evaluated independently and, on foot of this evaluation, a number of local authorities have been asked to commence non-binding procurement processes. It is likely that a number of private sector submissions to the second call will also be supported. No grant contracts have been signed to date under the second call as we are still in process.