The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, has given details of the applications for 28 MMDS cable franchise licences which were awarded in 1989 and 1990.
In a written reply the Minister said the competition for the award of 30 MMDS licences was advertised on May 6th, 1998 in the national papers with a closing date of August 31st, 1988. By the closing date 16 companies or individuals had applied for 24 licences.
Drogheda Independent Ltd, a subsidiary of Independent Newspapers, received four franchise licences. These included two it had applied for and two others in Cavan/Monaghan for which there were no applications but which the paper "indicated a willingness to take".
Cablelink Ltd had successfully applied for one licence and "was obliged to take" another licence for the west Mayo area for which there were no applications.
Cable Management Ireland Ltd was awarded three licences for Donegal in April 1990 based on an application made in October 1989. There were no applications for the three licences when the competition closed in August 1988.
The Minister was responding to a written question from Fine Gael's Public Enterprise spokesman, Mr Ivan Yates. Mr Yates also wanted to know if her officials could confirm that all applications for the 28 MMDS franchise licences were lodged by the closing date.
