19 November 2004
Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources today announced that he has approved a grant allocation to Sligo County Council of up to €4.15 million to build open access broadband infrastructure in and around Sligo town.
The total cost of the Sligo Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) will amount to €4.6 million and will involve the laying of 23 kms of high speed Internet cable. Construction is due to start by the end of November and will be concluded in Spring 2005.
The Sligo MAN is the first town in the next phase of the Regional Broadband Programme, which will bring high speed communications links to another 350,000 people.
The project, 90% grant aided by the Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, is co-funded by the EU under the Euro pean Regional Development Fund.
The fibre optic network in Sligo will be built by Morricom and project managed by EAP consulting on behalf of Sligo County Council.
Nationally, towns from Co Donegal to Cork, have been or will be connected to the backbone broadband running through the country. Once the rollout is completed next year it will provide cheap always-on access to the Internet a vital tool for industry and business and invaluable for educational institutes, health and research bodies.
Broadband proposals in respect of more than 40 other towns are currently being evaluated as part of the second phase of the Metropolitan Area Networks programme which so far is delivering broadband infrastructure to 26 large cities and towns around the country. Open access broadband plans for a further 50 towns will be developed during 2005.
This is another example of this Fianna Fáil led Governments commitment to ensuring broadband reaches every corner of Ireland in the shortest time possible, said Minister Dempsey.