Five projects aimed at improving advanced communications networks have received EU funding worth £11.5 million. The funding is being used in parts of the country where private investment would not provide such infrastructure on its own.

The projects are located in Sligo, Galway, Thurles, Clonmel, Tralee, Castlebar, Tallaght and Kilkenny. Those which received funding include NTL (known as Cabletel in Northern Ireland), which will build a high capacity link from Dublin to Sligo to Derry; Esat Telecom which will roll out fibre in 10 urban centres to connect to its national backbone network, Cablelink, CMI and Nore/Suir Relays (three cable television companies).

Announcing the projects yesterday, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said the five projects involved total funding of £50 million, once private sector funds were added.

"This initiative is just one of a series of measures which the Government is advancing so that Ireland can become an active player in the development of telecommunications-based industries," she said.