Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the claims that up to 12,000 homes and businesses cannot access broadband of any kind as they are not covered by the national broadband scheme; the provision he will make for these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43366/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It is accepted that even after the full roll-out of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) there will still be a small percentage of premises that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.). The European Economic Recovery Programme includes funding for access to broadband infrastructure in rural areas and my Department is currently considering the design and implementation of such a scheme. This work will include the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband.

It is hoped to commence this scheme in 2010 and have it completed by 2012. A notification of State Aid has been made to the European Commission as part of the process of securing the necessary approvals for the scheme.