John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The fact that Tuam and other large towns throughout the country, including three in my county, had DSL meant the Minister decided to invest in towns without DSL. It is now acceptable that the MANs programme and networks far exceed the DSL programme. For that reason, towns such as Tuam, Thurles, Shannon, Enniscorthy, Naas and Ennis are being considered by the Department. The capital involved to bring these towns up to the level of a MANs project is approximately €60 million. The Department is in discussions with the Department of Finance to advance this issue.

I accept what the Deputy stated. DSL is inferior in ways and large towns such as the Deputy's need a MANs project. The Department is examining that. The overall cost will be approximately €60 million. We must convince the Minister and the Department of Finance to advance that money to the Department. The phase 2 programme will come to an end shortly and we will strongly push to have a MANs project in Tuam and other towns throughout the country.

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