Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position in regard to consideration by his Department to enhance competitive backhaul connectivity on foot of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 21 November 2006; his plans to progress this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5445/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the metropolitan area networks in construction in 2006 and due for construction in 2007; and the overall budget for these works and progress his Department or ComReg has had in the development of backhaul connections for such networks or in the development of market or technological solutions to ensure that customers are easily able to make the last mile connection onto the new fibre optic networks. [5363/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 189 together.

The provision of telecommunications infrastructure, including backhaul connectivity is primarily a matter for the industry itself. However, my Department is currently reviewing the availability of competitively priced backhaul to existing and future Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS). All construction on the 27 towns under Phase I of the MANs was completed by the end of 2005. The total cost for Phase 1 is €85 million.

Phase 2 of the MANs programme involves the construction of MANs in over 90 additional towns nationwide. Construction commenced in 2006 in 23 towns in the following counties; Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath, Galway, Longford and Donegal. The remaining MANs under Phase II of the programme are currently on schedule to have commenced construction by the end of 2007. It is currently anticipated that all the MANs in Phase 2 will have been constructed in 2007-2008. The estimated cost for Phase 2, at present, is €130 million.

The intention of the MANs is to provide high speed fibre optic network infrastructure. Large numbers of drop connections to potential customers were built into the designs of the various MANs. All 27 MANs under Phase I of the programme have been handed over to the Management Service Entity (MSE), E-Net, which secured the concession agreement to manage, maintain, market and operate the MANs on behalf of the State. The issue of connections to the MAN is primarily an operational issue for the MSE.