Vol. 572 No. 3
329 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, further to Question No. 130 of 7 October 2003, the number of the 19 towns selected by the Government on 7 March 2002 which have MANs installed; when he expects that all 19 will be finished in phase one; when the implementation of phase two will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23079/03]
Of the 19 towns selected for the construction of metropolitan area fibre-optic networks – MANs – under phase one of the regional broadband strategy, 18 are under construction. Final preparations for the official launch of the Letterkenny MAN are being made. A number of MANs are nearing completion, and it is expected that all will be fully operational by mid-2004. As outlined in the Government decision of 7 March 2002, phase two and subsequent phases of the strategy will be contingent on successful implementation of phase one.
