Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 192: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the lack of broadband provision in County Sligo; his views on concerns that the national broadband scheme will not impact positively on broadband provision in County Sligo; if his further attention has been drawn to a local group which has applied for funding from his Department to conduct a survey of broadband needs for County Sligo, including the impact the national broadband scheme will have in the county; if he will fund this survey; if not, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35086/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Final decisions on the Electoral Divisions (ED) to be included in the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) were taken following an extensive mapping exercise to identify those areas throughout the country where broadband services were not available. This involved gathering data from all service providers in the country detailing areas in which they provided a service. Where EDs were shown to be substantially served by existing service providers, they were excluded from the NBS. Of the 82 Electoral Districts in County Sligo, 27 were deemed to be within the NBS coverage area.

Officials from Sligo County Council have been in touch with my Department in relation to the issue of a survey of broadband services in County Sligo. My officials held a very positive meeting with a delegation from the Council earlier this week to discuss details surrounding a survey of broadband services throughout the county to be carried out on behalf of the Council. My Department has not received an application for funding of such a survey nor was it raised during the meeting with officials from the Council. Consideration of any such application would of course have to be informed by the availability of resources.