Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of mobile phone companies which utilise the mast at Coolock Garda station, Dublin 5; if there is a limit to the number of companies which can use this mast; if there is a limit to the number of antennae which can be added to it; the way in which non-ionising radiation is monitored at this location; if information in relation to non-ionising radiation from this mast is made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19365/06]

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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At present three mobile phone companies have been granted licences by the Commissioners of Public Works to install telecommunications equipment on the mast at Coolock Garda Station. The number of companies that can be located on any particular mast is limited by space restrictions. The Telecommunications equipment installed by the mobile phone companies on Coolock Garda Station's Mast was installed under the exempt development provisions contained in Clause 31 of the 2001 Planning and Development Regulations and the number of additional antennae that can be added is limited by the said Clause 31.

Under the terms of the licence agreement with the Commissioners, the mobile phone operators are obliged to install and operate equipment within current standards and E.U. regulations and adhere to the guidelines on exposure limits to emissions, issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, (ICNIRP).

In addition, the Commissioners' consultants monitor all such developments on behalf of the Commissioners to ensure compliance with the regulations is achieved from the outset. They will then measure the emissions on an annual basis to ensure this compliance is continuous. Information on emissions from the Coolock Garda Station mast will be made available to members of the public on request.