Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the arrangements he has made for locations (details supplied) in County Donegal who are not included in the rollout of the national broadband scheme and who are unable to avail of broadband in their areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46989/10]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he plans to launch the rural broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46990/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.

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 Donegal.

Broadband services are now available throughout the entire National Broadband Scheme area and a list of the Electoral Divisions (EDs) covered by the NBS in County Donegal is provided below.

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. Un-served premises in Crove Upper, Carrick, County Donegal, will be eligible to apply under the scheme.

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 Donegal

ED Name ED Reference No.

ALTNAPASTE ED 57001

ARAN ED 57003

ARDMALIN ED 57005

ARDS ED 57006

BALLINTRA ED 57007

BALLINTRA ED 57008

BALLYSHANNON URBAN ED 57012

BINBANE ED 57014

CARROWKEEL ED 57025

CARTHAGE ED 57026

CAVANGARDEN ED 57031

CHURCH-HILL ED 57032

CLIFF ED 57033

CLOGHAN ED 57034

CLOGHER ED 57036

CREENASMEAR ED 57043

CREESLOUGH ED 57044

CROVEHY ED 57046

DOE CASTLE ED 57052

DUNAFF ED 57056

DUNLEWY 57060

EANYMORE ED 57061

FANAD NORTH ED 57064

FANAD WEST ED 57065

FEDDYGLASS ED 57066

FINTOWN ED 57068

GARTAN ED 57069

GLEN ED 57070

GLENALLA ED 57071

GLENLEHEEN ED 57076

GORTAHORK ED 57081

GRAFFY ED 57083

GROUSEHALL ED 57090

KILGOLY ED 57094

KILLYMASNY ED 57099

LAGHY ED 57104

LETTERMACAWARD ED 57108

LOUGH EASK ED 57110

Electoral Divisions(ED) Covered by the NBS in County Donegal

ED Name ED Reference No.

MAAS ED 57112

MALIN ED 57116

MALINBEG ED 57117

MEENACLADY ED 57119

MEENCARGAGH ED 57120

PETTIGOE ED 57126

SEACOR ED 57134

ST JOHNSTOWN ED 57135

TAWNAWULLY ED 57139

TEMPLECARN ED 57140

TEMPLEDOUGLAS ED 57141

TERMON ED 57142

TULLYNAUGHT ED 57146