Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
158 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress to date in his Department in ensuring that the full range of options, including wireless technology, are utilised to expand broadband access in rural areas as stated in his Department’s statement of strategy. [7676/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI introduced the CLÁR programme in October 2001 to address depopulation as well as the decline and lack of services in rural areas. CLÁR funds, or co-funds, with other Departments, State agencies and local authorities, investment in selected priority developments. These measures support physical, economic and social infrastructure across a variety of measures such as electricity conversion, roads, water and sewerage, village enhancement, health, telecommunications and sports projects.
I wish to outline to the Deputy the particular advances being made under the programme to facilitate broadband and wireless technology infrastructure in CLÁR areas.
I identified a pilot trial of broadband technology in selected industrial estates, business and educational/training centres in CLÁR areas as a potential measure in support of advanced broadband services in the regions. The trial would evaluate the broadband technology used for its potentially wider deployment throughout the CLÁR regions. Some 15 locations in CLÁR were identified as those that could benefit most from this initiative. Accordingly, in 2003, a call to third parties for the provision of broadband in these 15 CLÁR areas was placed by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on behalf of my Department. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is currently completing its evaluation of the proposals received.
CLÁR funding has also been committed to support a wireless based internet service for three projects shared across five locations in CLÁR areas in the Border, midland and regional assembly area. The projects are in Dungloe, County Donegal, Killala, County Mayo, Enniscrone, County Sligo, Lanesborough, County Longford and Ballyleague, County Roscommon.
In January 2003, the BMW regional assembly placed a call for expressions of interest for wireless Internet services in its region. Six projects were short-listed and three projects, across four locations, were finally selected. Three of these locations are in CLÁR areas — Ballinlough, County Roscommon, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo and Strokestown, County Roscommon. The fourth is in Virginia, County Cavan. Following discussions with the BMW regional assembly, my Department agreed to fund, under the CLÁR programme, the three remaining short listed projects on the same basis, that is, 80% equivalent to €254,709 of the total cost. This brings to nine the number of rural towns and villages in the BMW region benefiting from this initiative.
On the recommendation of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, CLÁR and Údarás na Gaeltachta is co-funding town fibre optic networks to the industrial parks in Belmullet, County Mayo, and Dungloe, County Donegal. I am currently examining an Údarás na Gaeltachta proposal to co-fund the supply of fibre optic cable to all Gaeltacht industrial estates in CLÁR areas. I am also liaising with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on funding fibre optic cable supply to all industrial estates in CLÁR areas.
