Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when quality broadband will be available to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; his views on whether it is difficult for a person to operate an on-line service to relevant departments without such broadband availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4786/09]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when quality broadband will be available to business personnel in a village (details supplied) in County Cavan; his views on whether it is difficult for a company to operate an on-line service without such broadband availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4787/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together.

The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2 Mbps–10 Mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg's report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2 Mbps–10 Mbps.

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010.

The areas of Tyholland, County Monaghan and Mountnugent, Kells, County Cavan will be covered by the NBS. Details of the areas to be covered by 3 under the NBS are available at www.three.ie/nbs.