Fergus O'Dowd
Question:366 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding broadband in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6920/03]
Vol. 563 No. 1
366 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding broadband in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6920/03]
The provision of communications infrastructure and services is a matter for the private sector companies that operate in the fully liberalised telecommunications market with reference to the direction and supervision of the Commission for Communications Regulation. To accelerate the delivery of faster and cheaper communications services throughout the country by the private sector, my Department has run a number of programmes of targeted intervention in recent years.
In 1999, under the National Development Plan 1994-1999 and INTERREG II, €26.5 million was made available to support the roll-out of broadband to the regions. Some 13 projects which rolled-out broadband infrastructure nation-wide to a value, both public and private funding, of €70 million were supported and are now completed. One of the projects funded under this measure was undertaken by Esat. The project involved the roll-out of fibre optic cable in many urban areas, including Dundalk. The 4,500 metre Dundalk ring services Dundalk Regional Technical College, the Finnabair Industrial Estate and the Coes Road Industrial Estate.
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, approximately €200 million was allocated under the two regional communications and e-commerce measures. Funding under these measures is intended to leverage and accelerate investment in competitive advanced information and communications infrastructure and services. This will enhance the potential for the development of electronic commerce facilities and enable the electronic provision of public services, including education services, virtual libraries, welfare and health services.