Written answers

Wednesday, 4 March 2009

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Brendan KenneallyBrendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the dark fibre services that will be available through the technical solution proposed by a company (details supplied) between the Telehouse in Derry and the Letterkenny and Monaghan mandatory locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9020/09]

Photo of Brendan KenneallyBrendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the terrestrial connection that is proposed by a company (details supplied) between the submarine landing point and the telehouse facility in Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9021/09]

Photo of Brendan KenneallyBrendan Kenneally (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the technical solution proposed by a company (details supplied) will guarantee 99.999% availability between the three mandatory locations of Derry, Letterkenny and Monaghan and New York; the way this will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9022/09]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 to 152, inclusive, together.

The Kelvin project is a €30m North-South project approved for 75% EU funding under the Interreg IVA Cross Border Cooperation Programme between my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in Northern Ireland, our joint partners in the project. €12m of Irish Exchequer funding has been approved for the project, of which €9m will be refunded to the Irish Exchequer from EU funds. The contract for the Kelvin Project was awarded in late December 2008 and is now being implemented by Hibernia Atlantic.

The Kelvin project will provide high speed direct international broadband connectivity to the North West of Ireland at a very competitive cost, in particular for the towns of Derry, Letterkenny, and Monaghan. The contract for the Kelvin project requires 99.999% availability at these mandatory locations. Dark fibre on the link between the Telehouse in Derry and the mandatory locations in Letterkenny and Monaghan will be available for use by companies for the provision of services.

I understand that Hibernia Atlantic are proposing to operate an optic fibre connection between the submarine cable landing point and the Telehouse in Derry. The completed network providing direct international connectivity under the Kelvin Project will make the entire region more attractive for international business and for foreign direct investment and will improve Ireland's overall international connectivity.

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