Written answers
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Telecommunications Services
7:00 pm
John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of households in Waterford city and county with broadband services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46739/10]
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 Waterford.
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%.
Broadband services are now available throughout the entire National Broadband Scheme (NBS) area. A list of the Electoral Divisions (EDs) covered in County Waterford is provided below. In summary, broadband services in the NBS EDs in the county are available to 97.99% of premises by means of mobile wireless broadband coverage, with coverage to the balance of 2.01% 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 (NBS)
Electoral Divisions (ED) Covered by the NBS in County Waterford
ED Name Reference No.
BALLYDUFF ED 227004
BALLYDURN ED 227005
BALLYNAMULT ED 227013
BALLYSAGGART MORE ED 227014
BOHADOON ED 227015
CARRIGCASTLE ED 227019
CASTLERICHARD ED 227021
CLASHMORE ED 227022
COLLIGAN ED 227025
COMERAGH ED 227026
COUMARAGLIN ED 227027
FEWS ED 227038
FOX'S CASTLE ED 227039
GARDENMORRIS ED 227040
GEORGESTOWN 227041
GLEN ED 227042
GRAIGNAGOWER ED 227045
GURTEEN ED 227048
KILBARRYMEADEN ED 227052
KILCOCKAN ED 227053
KILWATERMOY EAST ED 227062
KNOCKAUNBRANDAUN ED 227065
KNOCKMAHON ED 227066
MOCOLLOP ED 227068
MODELLIGO ED 227070
MOUNTKENNEDY ED 227072
Electoral Divisions (ED) Covered by the NBS in County Waterford
ED Name Reference No.
RATHGORMUCK ED 227078
ROSS ED 227082
SESKINAN ED 227083
TEMPLEMICHAEL ED 227087
TINNASAGGART ED 227088
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