Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made by a company (details supplied) since it secured the contract for the roll-out of broadband nationally; the company's liaison for the north west; the person with whom people can engage regarding progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21009/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In December 2008, my Department 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 located within the NBS area and who seek a service.

Challenging roll-out targets have been agreed with 3 and NBS services have already been launched in a small number of rural areas at the end of April 2009. The first programme milestone of 15% of the Electoral Divisions (EDs) in the NBS coverage area will be met by end June 2009, with monthly coverage increments thereafter. The EDs to be covered by end June have been identified and are now highlighted on 3's NBS coverage map available at http://www.three.ie/nbs/index.htm. 3 has commenced its marketing campaign in these areas to announce the forthcoming service availability.

Almost half of the entire NBS coverage area will be broadband enabled by end 2009 while all residential and business premises within the NBS coverage area will have broadband connectivity by end September 2010. Further information regarding the NBS and the most up-to-date rollout information can be found by contacting 3's dedicated NBS customer service team on 1913 or by accessing 3's website at http://three.ie/nbs/. Details of the availability of broadband services in the specific areas not covered by the NBS are available at www.broadband.gov.ie.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is envisaged that the roll out of the national broadband scheme will be available to the residents of the Creeslough electoral division in County Donegal; the timeframe for the availability of broadband in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21045/09]

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 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. The general area of Creeslough, County Donegal will be covered by the NBS.

3 is currently planning the construction and rollout of the infrastructure required for 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 2009 and the entire NBS area must be covered by September 2010. 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.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 387: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he has put in place to ensure that a high quality of service remains for emergency calls in view of the fact that there has been a change in service providers. [21074/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The current Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) is provided by eircom.

Following an open tender process, a concession agreement for the provision of the replacement ECAS was awarded to BT Ireland, the preferred highest ranked bidder. A number of quality of service parameters, have been agreed and documented in the contract. These parameters include the delivery of a new purpose built platform for the answering of calls, the training of the staff to the highest level, the building of a highly resilient communications network to service the two call answering centres in Ballyshannon, County Donegal and in Navan, County Meath. The contract also provides for continuous monitoring and reporting on the performance of the service as well as providing for financial penalties where key performance indicators have not been satisfied.

I am confident that the high standards concerning this important service will be delivered and maintained during the term of the concession agreement.