I welcome the contribution of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce report to the ongoing discussion on how to develop the potential of Dublin specifically and Ireland in general with regard to the information society. Indeed, I met the Dublin Chamber of Commerce informally on 3 December last year and part of the discussion related to the report.
While the provision of communications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to accelerate and promote investment in telecommunications infrastructure with the co-operation of the various development agencies and following consultation with the communications operators.
To date ten private sector contracts have been signed under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. My Department is also funding the construction of open access metropolitan area fibre optic networks in upwards of 19 towns and the Liberties-Coombe area of Dublin to facilitate the provision by the private sector of advanced communications services to consumers, educational establishments and business. It is expected that these projects will be completed progressively over the next two years at a cost in the region of €60 million. Construction of networks will begin shortly in Cork, Galway and Mayo and further projects will commence once contracts have been completed.
In Dublin specifically, my Department is overseeing the development of the digital hub, which is the Government's flagship project in the digital content sector. I met the Dublin Chamber of Commerce on this matter. This project aims to cluster Irish and international new media companies, research and development and educational-community initiatives in the Liberties-Coombe area of Dublin.
To date, the Digital Hub Development Agency Bill completed all stages in the Seanad before Christmas; the construction of a 3 km, high speed, open access, fibre broadband network in the hub was completed in September 2002; Media Lab Europe, a third level research and development educational facility, has been established as a partnership between the Irish Government and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is the flagship project of the digital hub.