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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

461 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the provision under the regional broadband programme for the Waterford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20413/02]

The provision of communications infrastructure and services is a matter for the private sector companies that operate in the fully liberalised telecommunications market.

However, recognising that there are areas of the country that are not as economically attractive for firms to invest in infrastructure and services due to lower population densities and lower concentrations of industries, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to facilitate the roll-out of advanced communications infrastructure which seek to address gaps in communications infrastructure in regional Ireland and lower the cost differentials between the regions.

In 1999, under the National Development Plan 1994-1999 and INTERREG II, €26.5 million was made available to support the rollout of broadband to the regions. Some 13 projects which rolled-out broadband nationwide to a value – both public and private funding – of €70 million were supported and are now completed. These projects entailed the rollout of broadband services in the border, midlands and west region and the south and east region.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the indicative figure allocated to telecommunications initiatives was approximately €200 million. Funding under this communications and e-commerce measure of the NDP will be utilised to leverage and accelerate investment in competitive advanced information and communications infrastructure.

A first call for proposals was run in 2000 and on foot of submissions received, nine contracts were signed at the beginning of last year which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure and increased availability of broadband services for business and residential users. The projects involved are scheduled to be completed by the end of next year and will entail an overall investment of €160 million in broadband leveraged from grant assistance of approximately €55 million.

Of the projects selected under this call under the communications measure of the NDP 2000-2006, the Department will fund Esat-BT with up to €9 million to roll out a €25 million DSL programme at 40 centres outside of the Dublin area, including Waterford, by the end of the year. The Department is also funding ESBT with up to €16 million to install a national 48-fibre optic network linking major centres throughout the country, one of which is Waterford.
The broadband programme announced in March will involve 20 projects, which will lead to the construction of metropolitan area fibre optic networks in towns, including Waterford, to link up with the existing backbone network in the country. The town links will facilitate consumers, educational establishments, industry and business and provide "always on" low cost and high speed Internet access, which will drive the Government's e-commerce agenda. By reducing the cost of access to fibre rings, it will facilitate the provision of broadband services by a greater a number of operators and the ensuing competition should benefit the end users in these towns. The relevant local authorities have been asked to enter procurement to establish firm prices for their proposals. Once procurement is completed, and subject to satisfactory pricing, contracts will be offered for these projects in the order that the local authorities complete the procurement processes to the satisfaction of my Department. It is anticipated that this will take place over the coming months. It is expected that these projects will be completed by the end of next year.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

462 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals in regard to the introduction of flat-rate internet excess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20415/02]

I propose to issue a policy direction to the new Commission for Communications Regulation in accordance with the terms of the Communications Regulation Act, 2002. It is my intention that the direction will focus on a number of key policy priorities for the CCR in the short to medium term, including the introduction of flat rate Internet access. The new commission will be established very shortly and following the establishment of the new commission I will publish a draft of my policy direction for public consultation.

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