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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Mar 2002

Vol. 551 No. 4

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

29 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her proposals to make good the deficit in broadband infrastructure in the south-east region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10583/02]

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, a provision of €200 million is available to support the communications and e-commerce measure. A first call for proposals was run last year and on foot of submissions received, nine contracts were signed at the beginning of the year which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure. These include delivery of service in the south-east region by Chorus, ESBT and ESAT.

The Chorus project proposes a southern and eastern broadband communications corridor to provide broadband access to much of Leinster and Munster. The ESBT project proposes to install a national 48-fibre optic network, most of which is concentrated in the southern and eastern region. The Esat project proposes to extend its existing broadband fibre optic network from Cork to Clonakilty.
A total of 31 submissions were received under the second call for proposals on the 19 October 2002. These submissions were independently evaluated and the results of evaluation were finalised at the beginning of this year.
On foot of the evaluation a number of local authorities have been asked to enter procurement to establish firm prices for their proposals. Once procurement is completed, and subject to satisfactory pricing, contracts will be offered for these projects. It is anticipated that this will take place in the next two months. These proposals involve the construction of metro area fibre optic networks in 19 towns around the country. Networks in other towns are under discussion with the relevant local authorities. Wexford, Waterford, Dungarvan, Carlow, Clonmel and Kilkenny are included in these 19 towns.
Arising from the Government strategy which I announced on 8 March last, a second phase of 48 additional towns will be pursued through a public private partnership model. Phase 1 and phase 2 encompasses 67 towns throughout the country, 37 of which are in the south and east region. Phase three will involve rolling out the programme to cover all 123 towns in the State.
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