Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the cost to date, including all fees and capital works, of the development of the metropolitan area networks throughout the country; the number of lines that are connected to the networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34315/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Total expenditure by my Department on the metropolitan area networks to 31 October 2005 is €76.4 million. This includes capital works and associated costs of the programme. Under phase 1 of the MANs programme, e-net has taken charge of all 19 metropolitan area networks. This handover phase has been ongoing during the past year with different networks coming on stream at different stages. It is e-net's responsibility to manage, maintain and operate the networks. Activity has now begun on the networks with several customer contracts being signed by e-net, including arrangements for backhaul. The details of these contracts are commercially sensitive and are a matter for e-net.