Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he will take to combat the digital divide; if he is satisfied that persons who wish to learn to use the Internet across broad sections of society have an opportunity to so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35511/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department and others have been working, and continue to work, on addressing the digital divide with a range of measures to promote digital engagement. One of the issues has been access to the technology and infrastructure – this is being addressed both by the market and in the case of areas where broadband provision remains an issue through the National Broadband Scheme in which the Department is investing substantially.

Skills are one of the key issues when considering the digital divide. Skills provision is being addressed in several ways. There are also training opportunities available across the country provided by community, voluntary and not for profit organisations. The Department has assisted some of these initiatives though various eInclusion grant schemes. In addition, training options also exist for people in libraries and in night classes throughout the country and from a range of private sector training providers. People are able to acquire the skills they need by learning them from friends and relatives. Research conducted recently in partnership with the Department indicated that 35% of people over the age of 50 were benefiting from the Internet "by proxy" (e.g. a family member or carer) even though they do not use it directly themselves.

We also now need to explore other approaches to addressing needs. In the context of the formulation of the new Knowledge Society Strategy, the Department will be consulting with stakeholders, and looking at research and developments here and internationally; to explore other ways to promote increased digital engagement. We are also working with our EU partners to explore other ways to encourage and promote digital participation and we will continue to look at potentially effective approaches in this context.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the reported deal between the national broadband scheme operator and another company (details supplied) for satellite services; the number of households he expects to be provided with satellite broadband; if this number has changed since the announcement of the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35524/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract guarantees that broadband connectivity will be available to 100% of the buildings within the NBS coverage areas. In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very costly and technologically challenging to reach using standard infrastructure, a limited number of residences and businesses in the NBS coverage area may be covered by a satellite service.

The NBS contract defines specific thresholds and circumstances under which satellite can be deployed and allows for a maximum of 8% of residences and businesses to be served utilising satellite technology. It is anticipated that the actual deployment of satellite will be around 5% of residences and businesses within the NBS coverage area. It is a matter for the NBS service provider, "3", to decide where a satellite solution will be deployed, provided that the overall number of residences and businesses served by satellite does not exceed defined thresholds for each county and the NBS coverage area as a whole.

The NBS contract guarantees that the satellite service will deliver minimum speeds of 1 megabit download and 128 kilobits upload with a maximum contention ratio of 48:1, a round-trip latency of 800 milliseconds and an 11 gigabyte (10 down, 1 up) inclusive monthly allowance limit. Regardless of the technology deployed, the same monthly charge of €19.99 and the same once-off installation cost of €49 apply. As a commercial matter, 3 has entered into a contract with two satellite providers on a non-exclusive basis for the provision of the NBS satellite service. I understand that Avanti is one of these companies.