Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in respect of the plans for a Metropolitan Area Network in Skibbereen, County Cork, he will issue a progress report on the project; if a company (details supplied) has secured fibre connections for any business premises or other operators in the area; if so, the number of connections that have been made in premises since June; if he will provide a breakdown of the list of businesses that have secured a fibre connection through the MAN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38002/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are a "middle mile" solution meaning that they provide the network connection between the local access delivered in towns by service providers and national backhaul networks, which carry the traffic from the MANs to the central points of international connectivity.

In the case of the Skibbereen MAN, e|net (the Management Service Entity for the MANs) has been exploring various backhaul options with operators in the area. In the event that a business premises in Skibbereen wants broadband services delivered over a fibre connection, e|net would set out the possible options and costs. However, e|net has advised that there has been insufficient market demand for fibre connections in Skibbereen to date. e|net remains available at all times to discuss the options for connection to the MAN with interested parties.