I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this serious matter. Donegal has suffered from a lack of infrastructural development, be it road, rail or telecommunication infrastructure. At a time when this Government, through its national development plan, is underpinning the importance of developing fibre-optic and broad band communications, we in Donegal were shocked to read in The Irish Times on Friday last, that Eircom has pulled out of the State subsidised 37 million project to provide both fibre optics and the dual subscriber lines technology to the Border, midlands and western region. This affects Buncrana in particular.
The technology would have provided high speed Internet multi-media services over ordinary telephone lines. Donegal was looking forward to the benefits of the funding which the Government had committed. Eircom was awarded a 12.4 million contract for the project under the national development plan as a means of bridging the growing digital divide between Dublin and the regional towns. However, Eircom management has vetoed the project according to the newspaper article.
I want to confirm whether the project is gone and what we do now. I want a commitment that we will not give up and that an alternative company will be brought in to ensure that this proposal and this long awaited project brings vital telecommunications infrastructure to my area. I want an undertaking that this will not be hindered by Eircom's withdrawal, should that withdrawal be confirmed. It is understood that management dropped the plan because of global retrenchment in the telecommunications market and a sceptical approach to expensive new technologies such as DSL. It is strange that places such as Donegal are seen as "expensive." Expense would be no hindrance in other main centres. We should be supplied with this facility, particularly as the money is provided through the national development plan.
The people of Donegal have worked hard to overcome the serious implications of recent job losses. Everyone in every sphere has moved to do what is asked by the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, State bodies and those in the know. We have moved toward diversification. Even the county council is running ECDL courses to bring us up to speed. FÁS, the local partnerships, the Leader groups, community groups are all pushing computer education. Those who have lost their jobs in the recent years rebelled initially against computer training but now that they have done courses they are proud of themselves for the experience they have gained. There are new companies in Moville, such as Iontas and there are other computer companies in Buncrana.
We have risen to the challenge but we need an IT infrastructure developed and enhanced. We deserve positive discrimination. We not only need the line that was supposed to be coming, but we also need a Malin Head to Mizen Head approach, preferably starting at Malin Head and moving to Mizen Head. We need an east-west link within Donegal. I implore the Minister to act. I know there is commitment in Government to supply what we were given funding for.
If it is confirmed, I deplore Eircom's action in pulling out of such an important aspect of the infrastructural development of my area. Broadband technology is recognised by industry as the only way in which our economic growth can continue. Donegal needs such growth more than any other county. I do not agree that Donegal is a peripheral county but if this infrastructure is not provided to assist companies to grow, irrespective of their physical location, the county has no future. This is a very serious day in my political career and I urge the Minister to find an alternative company to take up this proposal.