I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 to 550, inclusive, together.
The Management Services Entity (MSE) for the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) is contractually obliged to manage, maintain, operate and market the MANs on behalf of the State.
There are a number of provisions in the Concession Agreements to ensure that the MSE complies with these obligations.
The MSE submits Quarterly Reports on Key Performance Indicators of the MANs, maintenance of MANs network, Revenues, Costs etc. There are also Quarterly Liaison Committee meetings which representatives from enet, officials from my Department and a representative from the local authorities attend. Any items arising from the Quarterly Reports are discussed at the Liaison Committee Meetings or followed up separately as the need arises.
Under the provisions of the Concession Agreements, the Department is free to carry out audits on any part of the MSE’s functions. The Department carried out a review of the MANs in 2015 and engaged with a number of telecoms operators who use the MANs. More recently, the Department engaged Analysys Mason Consultants to carry out a review of pricing and access arrangements for the MANs.
The following table shows the reports completed in relation to the Metropolitan Area Networks. Norcontel was the only external consultant engaged to advise on extending or retendering the MSE I and MSE II Concession Agreements.
Title of Report
|
Author
|
Published
|
Reason not published
|
Cost Benefit Analysis of Proposed Investment in Broadband Infrastructure under the MANs Programme
|
Peter Bacon
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
Value for Money and Policy Review of the Metropolitan Area Networks (Phase I)
|
The Department
|
Yes
|
N/A
|
Valuation Report and advice on Waterford & Dungarvan Networks
|
Eamonn Halpin & Co. Ltd.
|
No
|
This report forms part of an ongoing legal process.
|
Report on the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme
|
The Department
|
No
|
The report contains commercially sensitive information
|
Report on extending/ retendering the MSE for the MANs
|
Norcontel
|
Redacted version available on the FOI disclosure log 2018 on the Department's website
|
N/A
|
Review of pricing and access arrangements for the MANs
|
Analysys Mason
|
Due to be published by end 2018
|
N/A
|