The Government is seeking proposals to provide broadband technology in 15 rural towns, designated under the CLÁR rural depopulation programme.

The technology will be provided on a "pilot trial" basis in selected industrial estates and business and educational training centres. The initiative was announced yesterday by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuiv, who has spearheaded the CLÁR scheme.

Clifden, Co Galway; Kilcar Industrial Estate, Co Donegal; Corraun and Ballycastle in Co Mayo; Tubbercurry, Co Sligo; Boyle, Co Roscommon; and Mohill, Co Leitrim, will be some of the beneficiaries of the project. Also earmarked are: Cootehill, Co Cavan; Tulla, Co Clare; Ballingeary and Rockchapel, Co Cork; Milltown Industrial Estate in Dingle, Co Kerry; Carlingford, Co Louth; and Lismore, Co Waterford.

Mr Ó Cuiv said that the trial would evaluate the broadband technology used for potentially wider deployment throughout the CLÁR regions.

CLÁR (Ceantar Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a programme introduced to tackle depopulation, decline and lack of services in rural areas, and covers parts of counties in all four provinces, with Leitrim being the only complete county included. The areas selected were those that have suffered the greatest depopulation since 1926, while the Cooley peninsula was also included as it had encountered serious difficulties during the foot-and-mouth disease alert.

Mr Ó Cuiv said he had received the support of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Ahern, for the initiative. He had also received advice from Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

"I am very conscious of the need to develop telecommunications infrastructure technology in rural areas," Mr Ó Cuiv said.

"This latest initiative will ensure, in the medium term, that businesses and communities have access at any given time to the range of broadband they need at a competitive price."