Written answers

Tuesday, 21 February 2006

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the investment, infrastructural or otherwise, which is planned to improve broadband service provision in Kildare; the place Kildare will take in the context of an overall national strategy concerning same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6560/06]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, the independent regulator.

It has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband, so my Department's regional broadband programme is addressing the infrastructure deficit by building high speed open access broadband networks, in association with the local and regional authorities, in the major towns and cities. These metropolitan area networks, MANs, will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs.

Some 27 MANs have been completed under phase one and 24 are currently being operated by E-Net, the management services entity. The second phase of the programme involves the building of MANs in a further 93 towns with a population of 1,500 and above that do not have a satisfactory broadband offering from the sector. Kildare is developing nine projects in respect of the following towns: Kildare, Newbridge, Rathangan, Sallins, Maynooth, Clane, Monasterevan, Kilcock and Prosperous. The route designs are currently being finalised prior to issuing the detailed design invitation to tender. Construction on these projects is expected to commence in 2006.

For rural communities and the hinterlands of larger towns, my Department offers funding under the county and group broadband scheme to enable these communities to become self-sufficient in broadband, in association with the service providers. To date 12 schemes have been approved across Kildare County representing total capital investment of €396,750, making broadband available to 68 communities and 17,790 people. Full details of the scheme, including application procedures, are on the website www.gbs.gov.ie.

My Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie lists all service providers offering broadband services in all towns in Kildare and gives contact details for each company together with prices for the various service levels on offer.

Kildare Briefing

9 MANs projects

1. Kildare

2. Newbridge

3. Rathangan

4. Sallins

5. Maynooth

6. Clane

7. Monasterevan

8. Kilcock

9. Prosperous

12 GBS projects

1. Timahoe

2. Cloncurry

3. Balraheen

4. Cadamstown

5. Johnstown

6. Kilteel

7. Rathmore

8. Straffan

9. Castledermot

10. Kilkea

11. Kilbride

12. Clane

There are a large number of operators in the Kildare area. Names are not available by county. However, the providers in each town in Kildare are listed at www.broadband.gov.ie. For example, in Kildare town, the website lists: DSL — BT; UTV Internet; Digiweb DSL; Leap Broadband DSL; Netsource; Perlico Communications; Pure Telecom DSL; Strencom; COM1 DSL; Imagine Broadband; and Access Telecom. Satellite — Digiweb Satellite; Mediasat; Applied Solutions; Orbitlink; Pure Telecom Satellite; e3 Broadband; ehotspot; Avonline; eircom; BROADBAND4IRELAND; and Fastnet Broadband.

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