I have received a letter from the board of management of the local primary school expressing concern about this matter. The position is that the Garda authorities have been approached by Esat Digifone with a proposal to share their radio masts in the context of Esat's planned mobile telephone network. The Garda consider that the arrangement proposed by Esat is technically feasible and would offer significant benefits to them.
The Departments of Finance, Environment, and Transport, Energy and Communications, and the Office of Public Works were consulted and had no objection in principle to Esat sharing Garda radio masts. Approval in principle was, therefore, given to the Garda Commissioner to enter discussions with Esat on the basis that a definitive decision to enter such an arrangement would be taken only if it could be established that it would represent value to the State, would not impair Garda communications or security and would meet legal and other requirements. As yet, no final agreement has been reached or contract made. A condition of any agreement that may be reached with Esat would be that its use of any Garda site would be subject to all relevant planning requirements or exemptions as the case may be. The various other requirements concerning health and safety as set out in the guidelines circulated to planning authorities by the Department of the Environment in July this year must also be satisfied before a final decision can be reached.
The Garda mast at Sligo has been identified by Esat as being of interest to it. The Garda authorities have allowed Esat to add some antennae to the existing mast at Sligo in anticipation of a satisfactory agreement being concluded. However, unless and until an agreement is concluded, Esat transmission from the site will not be permitted.
