Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Telecommunications Services.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Ceist:

350 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to provide broadband Internet access for the Kenmare area of County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18798/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern):

The provision of telecommunications services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market. Recognising that the private sector lacks adequate resources to fund major infrastructure projects, my Department has undertaken a number of initiatives to facilitate the roll-out of advanced communications infrastructure, including digital subscriber lines, to regional Ireland using European Regional Development Fund and Government funding. The availability of open-access, affordable, always-on broadband infrastructure and services is the Government's priority aim under the national development plan. Under the communications and e-commerce measure of the NDP, funding of approximately €200 million is being utilised to leverage and accelerate investment in competitive advanced infrastructure and services, to enhance the potential for the development of electronic commerce and enable the electronic provision of public services, including education, welfare and health services.

On foot of the first call for proposals, Eircom and Esat BT are rolling out DSL facilities at telephone exchanges nationwide under grant agreements of almost €8 million from my Department. They expect to have DSL services available at 145 telephone exchanges by September 2003. Following the second call for proposals, the interdepartmental working group on telecommunications recommended in March 2002 the design and construction of metropolitan area fibre networks in 19 towns and cities across the country. These networks are under construction and will begin coming into service later this year. It should be noted that a number of local authorities chose not to respond to the call for proposals. No applications for MAN funding were submitted by Kerry County Council or indeed any of the local authorities in the county.

A basic telephone connection allows normal speed dial-up Internet access in any area. Enhanced access rates, such as those provided by digital subscriber lines, will progressively be made available in more areas as the DSL programme rolls out. Over 900,000 telephone lines have already been DSL-enabled nationwide and Eircom intends to have DSL services available on 1.2 million customer lines by March 2004. In addition to these developments, a number of telecommunications service providers are already marketing broadband services to all areas of the country using wireless and satellite-based technology.