Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

437 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to locate a point of presence in Swinford to serve the needs of County Mayo; and if funding will be put in place for same. [19775/02]

The provision of communications services is a matter in the first instance for the companies which operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Director of Telecommunications Regulation. As Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I am responsible for public policy in the telecommunications sector within which these companies operate.

However, recognising that there are areas of the country that are not as economically attractive for firms to invest in infrastructure and services, I have undertaken a number of initiatives to facilitate the rollout of advanced communications infrastructure which seek to address gaps in communications infrastructure in regional Ireland.

In the final year of the National Development Plan 1994-1999 and INTERREG II, the Government made €26 million available to support the rollout of broadband to the regions. Some 13 projects, which rolled out broadband nationwide, were supported and are now nearing completion. The total investment in these projects amounted to approximately €69 million. The majority of these projects entailed the rollout of broadband services in the western counties including Mayo. In a project valued at over €5 million, Esat extended its backbone network to towns including Ballina, Claremorris and Ballyhaunis. Eircom also received funding for the provision of optical fibre cable along a 32 km link on a route connecting Galway and Castlebar and also connecting Westport. Eircom received support of over €5 million to upgrade 75 switches in the western area, giving these switches broadband connectivity. Undertakings by Chorus and supported by the Government involved the rollout of a coaxial cable network in Castlebar.
Approximately €200 million has been allocated to the communications and e-commerce measure of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 to promote investment in competitive advanced information and communications infrastructure and services in the less developed regions of the country.
On foot of submissions received under the first call for proposals in 2000, nine contracts were signed with telecommunications operators in 2001 which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure and increased availability of broadband services for business and residential users around the country including Mayo. Nevadatele is being supported to construct broadband services centres in four locations including one in Castlebar. Esat Telecom is undertaking projects using wireless local loop technology and DSL local access technology and will be supported in providing services nationwide, including western towns among them Castlebar and Ballina.
A second call for proposals issued in late 2001. Proposals received were independently evaluated and the results of the evaluation were finalised at the beginning of this year. The results of the second call have been incorporated into the national broadband strategy, which envisages the construction of metropolitan fibre and duct networks and collocation space in a number of towns around the country including Ballina and Kiltimagh.
Officials in my Department and in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are also currently evaluating a proposal to part-fund the provision of a communications PoP in Swinford and broadband infrastructure in Belmullet.
Barr
Roinn