Mobile phone firm O2 pays the Office of Public Works €2 million per year for the use of telecoms mast infrastructure at Garda stations across the State.
The Office of Public Works disclosed the figure following a recent announcement that it plans to rent thousands of extra sites to mobile phone firms.
The contract between the Garda, O2 and the Office of Public Works has netted the Exchequer at least €10 million since it was first signed in 1998.
Under the exclusive deal, O2 also upgraded the Garda's mobile mast infrastructure at a cost of €12 million. The deal gives O2 exclusive access to 184 Garda masts in virtually every county without having to apply for planning permission to set up its own mobile phone infrastructure at the sites.
O2 also supplies the Garda with access to mobile phone services at reduced rates under the contract, which expired in June 2002.
The Office of Public Works confirmed earlier this week that the deal with O2 was currently "under review".
The two parties are currently discussing the mobile contract under arbitration conditions, according to informed sources in the industry.
The average rental per mast achieved by the Office of Public Works in the 1998 deal works out at about €10,869 per year, suggesting that the Government's plan to offer other sites for rent could raise substantial sums.
The Office of Public Works has a portfolio of about 1,800 properties including central government departments and heritage sites. All of these sites will be reviewed as potential locations for a range of mobile technologies such as GSM, wireless hotspots and the new third generation mobile technologies (3G).
Minister of State with the responsibility for the new mast infrastructure strategy, Mr Tom Parlon, said last week the new policy was part of the government's plan to maximise the potential value of state assets.
He said telecommunications masts would not be placed at any school properties.
The Office of Public Works is currently tendering for a panel of telecoms consultants to evaluate and manage the new strategy.
