Communications: Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey predicted that a boost to Government investment in broadband services will help bring forward completion of the State-wide high-speed internet network to the end of 2008.
Mr Dempsey wants to introduce a tender process next year in which telecoms operators will bid for public money to upgrade phone exchanges in parts of the State in which broadband is deemed "uneconomic".
The Minister's overall allocation of €561 million in the Estimates is 6.2 per cent higher than the forecast outturn for his department this year. The overall package includes an additional €10 million for "nationwide broadband coverage", money which will bring the allocation next year to €45.7 million. Others elements of his allocation include:
€10.7 million for the new Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, which will assume the regulatory and enforcement functions of Mr Dempsey's department;
an additional €2.5 million for the Irish language television station TG4, which will be formally separated from RTÉ next April;
an additional €10 million for energy research, bringing the total to €14.66 million.
