Vol. 545 No. 1
115 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the level of investment for the delivery of broadband services to the regions; when such projects were first initiated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29475/01]
Broadband communications networks have become an important piece of enabling economic infrastructure in recent years. The importance of broadband is based on the emergence of the Internet and e-mail as key business tools. My Department is committed to working in partnership with telecommunications services providers to ensure the widest possible availability of these services. Planning for the regional delivery of broadband is done in close association with Forfás, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Shannon Development, Údarás na Gaeltachta and other development bodies with the central objectives of regional enterprise development and job creation in mind.
I have, in recent years, put in place a number of initiatives under national policy, which seek to address gaps in communications infrastructure in Ireland, particularly by bringing broadband connectivity to regional and rural areas.
In the final year of the National Development Plan, 1994-1999, the Government made 26 million – £21 million – available to support the roll-out of broadband to the regions. Thirteen projects which rolled-out broadband nationwide were supported and are now nearing completion. The majority of these projects entailed the rolling out of broadband services in the Border, midlands and western counties. The figure allocated to telecommunications initiatives by this Government has been significantly increased under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, to 200 million – £157 million. There is a commitment that two-thirds of this budget will be spent in the Border, midlands and western region. A first call for proposals was run last year and on foot of submissions received the Department of Public Enterprise entered nine contracts at the beginning of the year which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure. The projects involved will be completed over the next two years and will entail overall investment of 160 million – £126 million – in broadband leveraged from grant assistance of approximately 55 million – £43 million.
