Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when discussions will be completed on the next generation broadband consultation papers; if a decision has been made on the roll out of phase II of the MANs projects; when the management contract for the MANs network phase II will be signed; the return on investment that the State is receiving in financial terms from the MANs II; the cost to the State of MANs I and II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The consultation period for the Next Generation Broadband policy paper has now closed. Officials have examined the written submissions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum on 30 September 2008. The final report will be published shortly having regard to the contributions received.

Any future broadband investment decisions, including investment in further phases of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, will be guided by: (i) the final policy paper on Next Generation Broadband; (ii) the Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the MANs Programme, which was published last year; (iii) any other analysis as appropriate; and (iv) the availability of resources.

The engagement of an MSE II is the subject of a procurement process and is currently in the final stages of the contract negotiations with the preferred bidder, e¦net. Information regarding the revenue generated from the Phase II MANs is commercially sensitive and it would not be appropriate to publish it at this time. I believe that the MANs will play an increasingly important role in our competitive electronic communications market.

Approximately €89 million has been spent to date on Phase l of the MANs Programme and almost €98 million on Phase ll to date. These costs include all construction costs, design and associated programme management costs and Local Authority contribution in the region of €17 million. All networks were constructed under a fixed price contract and are co-financed under the European Regional Development Fund. The net cost to the State of these Programmes is in the region of €88 million.