The second initiative announced under the national development plan is the national broadband programme. The broadband programme announced in March will involve 19 projects which will lead to the construction of metropolitan area fibre optic networks in towns to link up with the existing backbone network in the country at a projected cost of over €60 million. 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 the towns concerned. The relevant local authorities, including the South-East Regional Authority, have been asked to enter procurement to establish firm prices for their proposals. I understand the tender process for the civil works for the SERA projects has closed and that a preferred civil contractor has been identified.