Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when proper broadband will be available in each of the parishes of Annyalla, Oram and Broomfield, County Monaghan; his views on whether proper broadband in rural areas can allow people to carry on useful work from their own homes, is valuable for persons in education and that it is unfair that rural areas such as these cannot get a commitment from a company (details supplied) as to when proper broadband will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Broadband services can be provided over various platforms, (DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless access, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre) by the private sector service providers. The enabling of exchanges for broadband purposes is a matter for the owners of the relevant exchanges. It is anticipated that the facilitation of greater competition from different technology platforms should encourage the more rapid enabling of exchanges for broadband.

Some of the harder to reach rural areas remain without any broadband service as the cost of rolling out networks to such areas is not commercially viable. To address this, 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 roll out targets have been agreed with 3. Services were launched in a small number of rural areas at the end of April and the entire NBS area must be covered by September 2010.

The general areas of Annyalla, Oram and Broomfield, County Monaghan 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 planning 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.