John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown of the provision of broadband services in County Mayo and the rate of broadband take-up; the areas of the county currently not broadband-enabled and when broadband will be made available in the areas not covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46367/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. ComReg's website www.callcosts.ie provides detailed information on the various private sector telecommunications products and services available on a county by county basis, including County Mayo.

While my Department does not hold information on broadband penetration by region, ComReg publishes quarterly statistical reports on national developments in the fixed-line, mobile and broadband communications markets.

These reports demonstrate the significant progress in broadband roll-out over recent years. At the end of June 2010 Ireland had in the region of 1.48 million broadband subscriptions and narrowband connections had reduced to less than 5% of all Internet connections. The year-on-year growth in subscriptions over the preceding 12-month period from June 2009 was over 16.5%.

A list of the 112 Electoral Divisions (EDs) covered by the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in County Mayo is provided below. Broadband services are now available throughout the entire NBS area. My Department and its external consultants actively monitor coverage within the NBS areas. In summary, broadband services in the NBS EDs in County Mayo are available to 98.66% of premises by means of mobile wireless broadband coverage, with coverage to the balance of 1.34 % of premises being provided by way of satellite.

However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be a small percentage of premises throughout the country that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.).

The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. Using this funding, which will be augmented by an Exchequer contribution, I intend, subject to Government approval, to formally announce the launch of a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of this year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas.

There will be a competitive process to engage a service provider who will offer a broadband service to qualified applicants under the scheme. While the exact details have yet to be finalised, I expect that the service offered under this scheme would at least match the service offered under the NBS. This process will be technology neutral – it will be a matter for the bidders to decide which technical approach they propose in their bids.

Information in relation to acceptance of applications and the process of qualification under the scheme will be made available in due course when the scheme is launched.

National Broadband Scheme

Electoral Divisions(ED) Covered by the NBS in County Mayo ED Name ED Reference No.

ADDERGOOLE ED 157002

AGHAGOWER NORTH ED 157003

AGHAGOWER SOUTH ED 157004

AGHAMORE ED 157005

AILLEMORE ED 157006

AN GEATA MOR THEAS ED 157007

AN GEATA MOR THUAIDH ED 157008

ARDNAREE NORTH ED 157010

ATTYMASS EAST ED 157012

ATTYMASS WEST ED 157013

BALLINCHALLA ED 157019

BALLYCASTLE ED 157022

BALLYCROY NORTH ED 157023

BALLYCROY SOUTH ED 157024

BALLYNAGORAHER ED 157028

BALLYOVEY ED 157029

BALLYSAKEERY ED 157030

BANGOR ED 157031

BARROOSKY ED 157032

BEKAN ED 157033

BELDERGMORE ED 157034

BELMULLET ED 157036

BOHOLA ED 157037

BRACKLOON ED 157038

BUNAVEELA ED 157040

BUNDORRAGHA ED 157041

BURRISCARRA ED 157043

CALLOW ED 157044

CAPPAGHDUFF ED 157045

CARAUN ED 157046

CARROWMORE ED 157047

CLARE ISLAND ED 157050

CLOGHER ED 157052

CLOGHER ED 157053

CLOGHERMORE ED 157054

CLOONMORE ED 157056

COOLNAHA ED 157058

COONARD ED 157059

CORRAUN ACHILL ED 157060

COURSE ED 157061

CROAGHMOYLE ED 157062

CROAGHPATRICK ED 157063

CROSSMOLINA SOUTH ED 157066

CUILDOO ED 157067

CULNACLEHA ED 157068

DALGAN ED 157069

DEEL ED 157070

DERRY ED 157071

DERRYLOUGHAN ED 157072

DOOCASTLE ED 157073

DOOEGA ED 157074

DRUMMIN ED 157075

ERRIFF ED 157077

FORTLAND ED 157078

GARRYMORE ED 157079

GLENAMOY ED 157080

GLENCASTLE ED 157081

GLENCO ED 157082

GLENHEST ED 157083

GOOLAMORE ED 157084

HOLLYMOUNT ED 157085

HOUNDSWOOD ED 157086

ISLANDEADY ED 157087

KILBEAGH ED 157088

KILCOMMON ED 157090

KILFIAN EAST ED 157091

KILFIAN SOUTH ED 157092

KILFIAN WEST ED 157093

KILGARVAN ED 157094

KILGEEVER ED 157095

KILKELLY ED 157096

KILLALA ED 157097

KILLAVALLY ED 157098

KILLEDAN ED 157099

KILMACLASSER ED 157100

KILMAINE ED 157101

KILMEENA ED 157102

KILSALLAGH ED 157104

KILVINE ED 157106

KNAPPAGH ED 157107

KNOCK SOUTH ED 157109

KNOCKADAFF ED 157110

KNOCKNALOWER ED 157111

LACKAN NORTH ED 157112

LACKAN SOUTH ED 157113

LETTERBRICK ED 157114

MAYO ED 157118

MEELICK ED 157119

MOUNT FALCON ED 157120

MUINGNABO ED 157121

MUINGS ED 157122

MURNEEN ED 157123

NEALE ED 157124

NEWBROOK ED 157125

NEWPORT EAST ED 157126

NEWPORT WEST ED 157127

OWENBRIN ED 157128

OWENNADORNAUN ED 157129

PORTROYAL ED 157131

RATHHILL ED 157132

RATHOMA ED 157133

ROSLEE ED 157134

SALLYMOUNT ED 157135

SHESKIN ED 157136

SHRULE ED 157137

SLIEVEMAHANAGH ED 157138

SONNAGH ED 157140

SRAHMORE ED 157142

TAGHEEN ED 157145

TAWNYNAGRY ED 157146

TOOCANANAGH ED 157147

TUMGESH ED 157149