Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Finance the guidelines used in allowing the erection of telecommunications masts in public parks and on public buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17877/05]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Finance if he or his Department held consultations with the Commissioners for Public Works on the decision to grant licences to telecommunications companies subject to planning permission to erect masts on property under its remit. [17878/05]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Finance if conditions attached to the licences granted to telecommunications companies property managed by the Commissioners for Public Works; the negotiations which were held with the companies involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17879/05]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.

The Commissioners of Public Works have direct responsibility for the management of the State property portfolio. One of their objectives is to ensure that the property portfolio is used in an optimum way from the point of view of the State and the taxpayer. With this in mind, the Commissioners of Public Works are pursuing a programme of extracting maximum value from the property assets. Part of this programme involves the granting of licences to telecommunications companies to install masts on a range of State owned properties in return for an agreed level of fees.

Following negotiations with the telecommunications companies a standard licence agreement has been agreed. The licence agreement sets out the terms and conditions under which telecommunications companies will be allowed to install equipment on State owned properties. A mobile phone operator granted such a licence will be required to strictly comply with all relevant Health and Safety Acts, will operate within current standards and EU regulations and will adhere to the guidelines on exposure limits to emissions issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Consultants appointed by the Commissioners of Public Works will be carrying out checks on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with these standards. Licensees will also be required to fully comply with normal planning regulations.