Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
688 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the provision of broadband access in the Clones area of County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21865/04]
View answer689 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding provision of broadband access in the Castleblayney area of County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21866/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.
The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the fully liberalised private sector, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation.
As the sector has been slow to invest in broadband, the Government set aside an indicative €200 million under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 for the creation of high-speed fibre infrastructure in towns and cities that will enable the provision of broadband by private sector companies. Under my Department's regional broadband programme, 19 metropolitan area fibre networks, MANs, have already been built, and a further seven are under construction. These networks are being managed for the State on an open-access basis by E-Net, which has been awarded the services concession contract.
Phase 2 of the programme, now under way, will see the roll-out of broadband infrastructure to over 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and more that are not being provided with broadband by the telecommunications companies. Calls for proposals have issued in respect of 41 of those towns, including Clones and Castleblayney, and it is expected that contracts will be in place before the end of this year. The call for the remaining towns will issue in the new year.
Full details of the regional broadband programme can be found on my Department's website, www.dcmnr.gov.ie.
