Economy, Transportation and Communications

Ireland has 1,909 km (1,186 mi) of railway track, all operated by the state-owned Irish Transport Company and linking all important points on the island. The road system totals about 92,500 km (about 57,477 mi), 94 percent of which is paved. Navigable inland waterways total about 435 km (about 270 mi). International airports are located at Shannon, Dublin, and Cork, and several international air-transport systems provide regular service between Ireland and major cities throughout the world.

All postal, telegraph, telephone, and broadcasting services are operated by government agencies or statutory bodies. In 2000 Ireland had 420 telephone mainlines for every 1,000 residents. Radio Telefis Eireann, the public broadcasting authority, operated three radio channels and two television channels. In 1997 there were 697 radio receivers and 402 television sets in use for every 1,000 inhabitants.