Vol. 507 No. 2
7 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the investment proposals in progress or planned to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure in the Border region, particularly Cavan and Monaghan; the level of funding, if any, which will be provided; the particular projects, if any, which will be assisted; the level of funding per project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16513/99]
The Deputy is aware that the provision of telecommunications infrastructure is primarily a matter for operators in the newly liberalised telecommunications market.
Recognising that in certain regions competition alone will not provide the required broad band telecommunications infrastructural investment, I recently sought fresh proposals for projects supporting the development of advanced communications networks and services which might be co-funded by the European Union.
A number of proposals were received, they were evaluated by independent consultants and recommendations have been made. Proposals were not received for the Cavan and Monaghan region in the latest round. Contractual details are currently being finalised with a number of companies and I will make these known shortly. The recommended proposals include an INTERREG II funded proposal.
In addition, my Department, together with Forfás, is currently preparing estimates of further funding requirements to ensure nationwide broad band connectivity. All regions will be considered in this review.
Can the Minister assure me that her Department will ensure that the telecommunications infrastructural needs of the Border region will be given urgent consideration, particularly in view of statements by the chief executive of Forfás, the chairman of Forfás and the senior executives of the other industrial development agencies that there is a need to upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure in the Border region to ensure it can attract some of the worthwhile inward investment which is coming to the country? As the Minister will be aware, both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment have indicated strongly and consistently that the Border counties need inward investment and that the necessary infrastructure should be put in place to ensure that modern technological industries can be brought to those areas which suffered so much for in excess of 30 years. Now that the peace process is advancing, it needs to be underpinned and consolidated.
The Deputy's time is up.
Will the Minister assure me that the needs of the Border region will be given urgent consideration by her Department?
My Department, together with Forfás, is currently preparing estimates of further funding requirements to ensure nationwide broad band connectivity. Following the invitations we sent out, not one Cavan-Monaghan firm applied. However, that was not the Deputy's point and I understand that. The recommended proposals include an INTERREG II funded proposal. I have not seen the details of it but I hope Cavan-Monaghan will be involved.
To answer the Deputy directly, yes, all of the developmental agencies, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment are in favour of inward investment in Cavan-Monaghan. The need for broad band connectivity in that regard is well noted.
Will the Minister assure me that when the INTERREG II programme for telecommunications is put in place the funding will be confined to the Border region as we know it because unfortunately there was an INTERREG maritime programme which brought investment to Dún Laoghaire, which did not suffer too much as a result of the trouble in the North over the years? I hope the INTERREG funding for telecommunications will be devoted to the Border region as we know it.
I do not know about the maritime programme but I take the Deputy's point. I will ask my Department to give reality to what he said, that money provided under INTERREG would be for the Border regions.
On a related telecommunications matter, I wish to draw the Minister's attention to the website established by Golden Pages, a virtual thieves' charter in which one can simply input an address and the name and telephone number of a resident is printed out. The matter was highlighted in yesterday's Evening Herald and is an absolute disgrace. This information is not available from directory inquiries.
The Deputy should table a separate question on this matter.
Thieves may now simply access the names and numbers of residents to see whether they are at home.
The Deputy is not in order in pursuing this matter at this time.
As a shareholder, the Minister must investigate the matter. Is she aware of the website?
I read the article and will ask my departmental officials to investigate the matter.
