75 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her plans to expand the telecommunications broadband infrastructure to enable the regions to attract industry; and her further plans to ensure that the pricing of such services will be competitive by international standards. [2930/02]

The provision of telecommunications services, including Internet services, is a matter in the first instance for the companies which now operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Director of Telecommunications Regulation. My responsibility is for public policy in the sector within which these companies operate.

My Department has responsibility for the communications and e-commerce measure of the national development plan. Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the figure allocated to telecommunications initiatives was €200 million. A first call for proposals was run in 2000 and, on foot of submissions received, I signed nine contracts at the beginning of last year which will result in additional investment in the regions in broadband infrastructure. Details of these programmes are available on the Internet at www.ndpcomms.gov.ie.