Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Pat Rabbitte.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Senior Management Organisation Chart
Petroleum Affairs Division
— Technical
Ronan Tierney
Contractor
Head of Internal Audit
Unit
Information and Communications Technology
392. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources if he will provide an update on the status of metropolitan area network infrastructure
projects in Dunmanway, Bantry, Skibbereen and Kinsale separately; the stage of each project;
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that each network is lying dormant since 2005; if he
will take this into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7795/12]
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Pat Rabbitte): The
provision and quality of electronic communications services, including broadband, is primarily
a matter for private sector service providers, regulated and licensed by the Commission for
Communications Regulation (ComReg). The State is not a service provider in the telecoms
market and tends to intervene only in cases of demonstrated market failure.
The Government’s investment in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), is one such case of
State intervention in the telecoms market. The aim of the MANs Programme is to provide an
open access network to all service providers who wish to provide services in regional and
rural towns. These state-of-the-art fibre networks are a long term strategic investment. They
significantly enhance the productive capacity of local economies, particularly those that seek
to attract companies requiring excellent telecoms infrastructure.
Under the MANs Programme, there were eleven MANs built in County Cork covering 15
towns, including four towns in west Cork — Dunmanway, Bantry, Skibbereen and Kinsale.
The MANs are operated and managed on behalf of the State by a Managed Services Entity
(MSE), e|net.
The following is the current position in relation to the MANs projects in Dunmanway,
Bantry, Skibbereen and Kinsale:
Dunmanway
The Dunmanway MAN was constructed in 2007 and was handed over to e|net in 2010. I
have been advised by e|net that the Dunmanway MAN is expected to be live in the next month
or so.
Bantry
The Bantry MAN was constructed in 2007 and was handed over to e|net in 2010. The Bantry
MAN is already operational, i.e. being used by industry.
Skibbereen
The Skibbereen MAN was constructed in 2007 and was handed over to e|net in 2010. While
the Skibbereen MAN is available for use, it does not have any connections. e|net is in discussions
with local business representatives with the aim of stimulating demand for MAN
based services.
Kinsale
The construction of the Kinsale MAN commenced in 2007. However, construction could not
be completed due to the commencement of a local authority drainage project in Kinsale. Work
recommenced on the Kinsale MAN in 2009 and the telecoms duct was largely completed in
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