Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004
349 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the name of the contractor and the details of the contract in rolling out broadband throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23262/04]
View answerUnder my Department's regional broadband programme, 19 metropolitan area fibre networks, MANs, have been built in association with the local authorities, and a further seven are under construction. The MANs are 90% funded using ERDF funding under the NDP 2000-2006, with the remaining 10% funding coming from the local authorities. The construction phase of each network in the regional broadband programme is separately contracted following a tender process by the local authority concerned.
All the MANs are being managed for the State on an open-access basis by E-Net, which was awarded the services concession contract by my Department following a competitive tender. Full details of the broadband rollout programme can be found on my Department's website www.dcmnr.gov.ie.
