Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 262: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to provide access to broadband services to individuals who live in areas not covered by the national broadband scheme and who cannot access broadband for local infrastructural reasons. [2657/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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EU State Aid and competition rules prevent States from intervening in the areas already substantially served by broadband. While recognising that some premises within substantially served areas may have difficulties for whatever reason (long lines, pair gains, no line of sight etc) in receiving a broadband service, the NBS scheme cannot cater for such limited instances. It is expected that over time, competing service providers would be attracted to offer services in such areas, given that those areas are already commercially viable for the existing service provider(s).