Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
41 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the level of co-operation which exists between his Department and local authorities in relation to the development of the broadband telecommunications project. [19273/04]
View answer43 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with a view to formulating a co-ordinated approach to the development of the broadband project. [19274/04]
View answer44 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount which has been spent to date on the broadband project. [19277/04]
View answer48 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the towns which have no plans for the roll out of broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19288/04]
View answer50 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he estimates that the broadband project will be completed. [19276/04]
View answer64 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the metropolitan area networks that are now in operation; and the initial figures for the level and nature of traffic on the fibre optic rings. [19310/04]
View answer76 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the average costs charged by local authorities on the installation of the broadband system. [19275/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 43, 44, 48, 50, 64 and 76 together.
Under the NDP 2000-2006, an indicative €200 million, part-funded by the ERDF, was set aside for regional broadband infrastructure projects. Of this funding €64 million has been invested in the construction of the metropolitan area fibre networks in 19 towns and cities, in association with the local authorities, who received grant assistance of 90%.
Officials of my Department have worked closely with other Departments, agencies and the local authorities, to ensure that the projects have been completed on time, within budget and with minimal delay or disruption. Full operational details of the individual projects, including construction costs for each of the MANs, together with maps and other information, are given on my Department's website www.dcmnr.ie. Thirteen MANs are now in a position to offer interim access and full details of these are also on the website.
Government funding has been secured until 2007 for a range of broadband roll-out projects. In December last I announced the next phase of the broadband action plan, which includes the roll-out of broadband to more than 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and over and the group broadband scheme for smaller towns and rural communities. Design details for the town MANs are currently being worked on, and work will commence on 41 of these in the autumn. The Management Services Entity, MSE, is the independent body that will manage, market and maintain the MANs. Earlier today I announced the award of the MSE contract to eNet. Details of eNet's product offerings and costs of access will be posted on eNet's website in the coming days.
