Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 286: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of metropolitan area networks users in counties (details supplied) as of 1 January 2008. [34613/08]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the towns in counties Kerry, Cork, Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal which are connected to the metropolitan area networks broadband scheme. [34678/08]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the towns in counties Kerry, Cork, Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal scheduled for connection to the metropolitan area networks broadband scheme. [34679/08]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the take up of metropolitan area networks broadband services in counties Kerry, Cork, Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. [34680/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 289 to 291, inclusive, together.

Under Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme 27 MANs have been constructed. All 27 are operational and open for business in Carlow, Cork, Letterkenny, Gweedore, Galway, Kilkenny, Portlaoise, Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, Limerick, Ballina, Kiltimagh, Tullamore, Roscommon, Clonmel, Dungarvan, Waterford, Mullingar, Athlone, Wexford, Dundalk, Drogheda, Carrickmacross, Monaghan, Cavan, Kingscourt and Sligo. There are no Phase I MANs in Counties Kerry and Clare.

Under Phase II of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme an additional 60 MANs covering 66 towns are almost completed, which are detailed in the table herewith.

Service providers are deemed as "customers" of the MANs. In other words, a Service Provider, as a customer of a MAN, uses the MAN to offer services on to the Service Provider's own customers. 34 service providers are offering services on the Phase I MANs, using them to compete for voice and data services over a range of platforms including:

Unbundled local loop;

Mobile wireless;

Fixed wireless;

Cable;

Partial private circuits; and

Directly connected fibre.

Information relating to the use of the MANs by service providers, including the numbers of customers served by each service provider is commercially sensitive and a matter for each service provider.