Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when DSL broadband will be available to customers in rural areas of County Louth (details supplied); his views on whether these areas and others like them are being discriminated against due to the fact that their exchanges are not broadband capable; his further views on whether the lack of DSL broadband is discouraging business and employment in these areas and placing school children and students at a disadvantage, and causes social disadvantage; the reason he has not announced the next call for the rural broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3793/07]

Noel 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 independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The enabling of exchanges to provide DSL broadband is a matter for the service providers.

My priority remains that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. However I am aware that despite Government and private investment in broadband infrastructure there are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity. I would like to expedite the roll-out of broadband to these remaining areas that cannot receive a commercially viable service. Accordingly, I recently announced my intention to introduce a scheme to ensure broadband is available throughout Ireland. This Scheme, which will supersede the Group Broadband Scheme, will, when it is fully rolled out, ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband from houses and premises in rural areas are met. A Steering Group comprising officials from my Department and ComReg is currently considering all elements of the proposed scheme. This scheme will be confined to areas of the country that are not yet served by any broadband service provider, currently thought to be 10-15% of the population.

Under the joint industry/Government initiative which established the Broadband for Schools Programme, high speed broadband connectivity is being provided to all primary and post primary schools in the country at no cost to the schools themselves. 96.8% of schools have broadband installed to date.

My Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie gives full details of broadband availability in all areas, including ADSL, cable, fibre, satellite and fixed wireless. The website also lists prices of the various service levels on offer and contact details for each service provider.