14 February 2006

Justice

Telecommunications masts in Garda stations.

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the benefits that accrue to the Garda Síochána or to individual members of the force including the provision of mobile phone handsets and free or low rate calls arising from contractual arrangements made between a telecommunications company and his Department or the Office of Public Works regarding the placement of telecommunications antennae on telecommunications masts on or adjacent to Garda stations.

and

asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide details of the benefits that accrue to the Garda Síochána or to individual members of the force including the provision of mobile phone handsets or free or low rate calls arising from contractual arrangements in respect of the placement of telecommunications antennae on telecommunications masts that are in the ownership of the State, such as those adjacent to Garda stations.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

Last year the Office of Public Works entered into a new licence agreement with telecommunications operators for the utilisation of the State property portfolio, including Garda masts. There is no direct benefit accruing to the Garda Síochána in the agreement apart from the replacement of masts and ancillary equipment as provided for under the agreement. However, there is a separate arrangement with the Office of Public Works, with the consent of the Department of Finance, for the transfer of a portion of the rental income from the OPW to the Garda Vote to defray the costs and input of the Garda Síochána in the process.

Prior to this, an non-exclusive agreement was signed with ESAT Digifone on 25 June 1997 for the use of Garda masts to place its antennae for mobile telephony. The Office of Public Works, the Garda Síochána, this Department and the Department of Finance were signatories to the agreement. The agreement expires in June 2007.

The agreement provides that the company make an annual payment to the OPW to place antennae on Garda masts. In addition to the annual licence fee, a number of mobile telephony services are provided by the company to the Garda Síochána. The agreement at the outset provided for the provision of 300 new handsets with connection without charge to the network and also connection for an additional 150 handsets to the network with free calls within the network. An additional 100 connections are provided without charge. In July 2001 the Garda Síochána exercised an option under the agreement to increase the total number of connections to 1,000 in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

The agreement also provides for the company to replace Garda masts were applicable. To date a total of 128 masts have been replaced providing significant benefits to the force which utilises the same masts for its own communications needs.