Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the investments in broadband in CLÁR areas which have been funded or co-funded by his Department; the amount in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30716/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2003, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, on behalf of my Department, placed a call for broadband proposals in CLÁR areas. Some 15 centres were identified for a pilot trial of broadband technology in selected industrial estates, business and educational-training centres in the CLÁR regions.

Following technical and financial evaluations, 12 locations were identified to receive broadband from funding of almost €400,000 approved under the CLÁR programme. Grant aid of 55% maximum applied for projects in the BMW region and 30% maximum in the south and east region. The actual cost of the roll-out in 2004, with associated evaluation costs, was €353,000. The 12 locations — Boyle, Carlingford, Cootehill, Mohill, Tubbercurry, Lismore, Tulla, Ballycastle, Clifden, Corraun, Carna and Kilcar — are benefiting from high speed broadband connections at speeds equal to or better than most current market offerings, using the latest high speed wireless and satellite technologies.

In addition in 2003, following discussions with the BMW regional assembly, my Department agreed to fund, under the CLÁR programme, a wireless based Internet service for three projects covering five locations in CLÁR areas in the BMW region at the rate of 80%, €254,709, of the total cost.

The projects are: Dungloe, County Donegal, Killala, County Mayo and Enniscrone, County Sligo, Lanesborough, County Longford and Ballyleague, County Roscommon. At the end of 2004, the three projects were up and running. It is expected that, by the end of 2005, close to the full draw-down of funding will have been achieved on all three projects.

In addition, CLÁR and Údarás na Gaeltachta are developing proposals to co-fund the supply of town fibre optic networks to the industrial parks in Belmullet, County Mayo and Dungloe, County Donegal. The Belmullet project is completed and will benefit from CLÁR funding of over €75,000. Discussions are ongoing on the Dungloe project.

I do not propose to place any further calls for broadband proposal in CLÁR areas as, having consulted with Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, it advised that the county and group broadband schemes, run by that Department, amply accommodate broadband supply to rural areas.

The objective of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources schemes is to promote the roll-out of broadband access through the establishment of sustainable broadband services in towns, villages, rural hinterlands and under served areas of larger towns on the basis of local-regional authority co-ordination and community driven initiatives. They are open to all smaller and rural communities of less than 1,500 people. This enables local communities to work with a broadband service provider of their own choice, or to draw up and implement their own broadband plan, with the aim of launching a broadband service for residents and small and medium sized businesses in their area.