Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms, including DSL (telephone lines), cable, fixed wireless, mobile and satellite. Details of the availability of broadband services in specific areas are available at www.broadband.gov.ie.

The Government recognises the importance of ubiquitous access to broadband and its widespread provision continues to be a priority. Government policy has been to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services, by competing private sector providers. Where market failure has occurred the Government has undertaken a variety of initiatives to improve broadband coverage, including the Group Broadband Scheme (GBS), in the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme and more recently the National Broadband Scheme (NBS).

Under the NBS contract, "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, will provide affordable, scaleable broadband services to rural areas. The NBS will be rolled out on an Electoral Divisions (ED) basis and the EDs to be addressed in County Kildare are set out in the table below. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. 3 is currently planning the construction and rollout of the required infrastructure for the purposes of the provision of the service. Challenging rollout targets have been agreed with 3. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area must be covered by September 2010.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the planned roll-out of broadband for the areas of County Waterford not served by the private sector; the areas it is planned to include over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13966/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). 3 is currently planning the construction and rollout of the required infrastructure for the purposes of the provision of broadband services to the unserved parts of the country. Challenging rollout targets are contained in the contract with 3. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area must be covered by September 2010.

While the Electoral Divisions in County Waterford, detailed hereunder, will be covered by the NBS, 3 is not in a position, at this juncture, to predict the progression of site rollout in advance of obtaining the necessary permissions. One month prior to the NBS being launched in any given area, 3 will implement a marketing campaign to announce the forthcoming service availability. This campaign will include, inter alia, local press and outdoor advertising.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure a new broadband line for the Croughan area, County Roscommon, receives the necessary equipment to ensure the required data is able to be input and the line operational as quickly as possible. [14032/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The installation of any equipment to facilitate the provision of broadband services is a matter for the network owners.

My Department has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service.

3 is currently planning the construction and rollout of the required infrastructure for the purposes of the provision of the service. Challenging rollout targets have been agreed with 3. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area must be covered by September 2010.

The general area of Croghan, County Roscommon will be covered by the NBS. However, 3 is not in a position, at this juncture, to predict the progression of site rollout in advance of obtaining the necessary permissions. One month prior to the NBS being launched in any given area, 3 will implement a marketing campaign to announce the forthcoming service availability. The campaign will include, inter alia, local press and outdoor advertising. Details of the areas to be covered by 3 under the NBS are available at www.three.ie/nbs.