Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of businesses connected to the Wexford town metropolitan area network; the cost of each connection; his views on whether the usage of this network is satisfactory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44728/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Wexford Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) is one of the twenty-seven Phase I MANs currently being managed, maintained and operated on behalf of the State by e|net, the Management Services Entity.

To date, twenty-one connections have been constructed on the Wexford MAN. While the number of connections may appear to be small, it should be noted that each of these connections is being used to provide services to numerous individuals, e.g. employees in organisations such as Wexford County Council and Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It should also be noted that just one connection by a broadband service provider can allow that service provider to provide onward services to many hundreds of its own customers.

The cost of connecting to a MAN is a commercial matter between e|net and its customers. A connection to a MAN primarily comprises construction costs.

The MANs have played an important role in improving Ireland's telecommunications market. An analysis carried out by e|net showed an estimated 570,000 people rely on the MANs for some form of communications services. The importance of MAN infrastructure, in terms of helping to secure indigenous and foreign investment is highlighted by IDA data which shows that most of the foreign direct investment in 2007 went to MAN-enabled towns, which was not the case before the MANs became available.