New Connections - Department of Taoiseach

It is intended that these networks will facilitate and promote competition and furtherprivate sector investment in the provision of broadband services. These networks shouldalso complement existing networks.The Department recently issued a call for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) pilotproposals, with the aim of testing the feasibility of the technology and identifyingappropriate access environments. Evaluation of proposals received will be completed byend 2002.D/CMNR are actively working to encourage demand and maximise private sectorinvestment. Subsequent phases will:• Cover the remainder of the 67 towns already identified as priorities in the NDP withinthree years• Cover all 123 towns in the State, with a population over 1,500, within five years• Consider any necessary modifications including revised targets and deadlines asappropriate in light of progress and lessons learned in phase 1.D/CMNR is also co-funding seven projects with telecommunications operators under theNational Development Plan 2000-2006, involving the development of broadbandinfrastructure. These projects, due to be completed in 2003, will result in a new nationalfibre backbone, extensive rollout of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) services and leasedline services around the country.(1.2) Future Planning PermissionsELG• Consider making it obligatory, in future planning permissions, for the developer ofnew urban roads, housing developments and industrial estates, to lay ducting andtransfer it to the Local Authority.UpdateThe Planning and Development Act, 2000 makes the roll-out of telecommunicationsinfrastructure a mandatory element of local authority development plans. LocalAuthorities have the power to impose conditions relating to the provision of ducting etc.in granting planning permissions, and these conditions are currently being imposed inmany appropriate cases. The passing of the 2000 Act and the making of newconsolidated planning regulations in 2001 represents a fundamental overhaul of theplanning system. The next step is to draft new Development Control Advice andGuidelines, which are made by the Minister and to which local authorities must haveregard. The issue of obliging developers to provide ducting will be addressed in theguidelines. A major round of consultation on the draft guidelines will take place nextyear, with the guidelines being made in 2004.8