Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 924: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 801 of 9 July 2009, the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1404/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The position remains that any future broadband investment decisions, including investment in any further phases of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, will be guided by (i) the policy paper on Next Generation Broadband, which was published in June 2009 (ii) the Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the MANs Programme, which was published in July 2008 and (iii) the availability of resources.

My officials are currently analysing potential options for further investment under the MANs Programme in the light of the above.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 925: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date in the provision of broadband to rural areas under the national broadband scheme; the areas of County Clare which remain without broadband; his plans to extend broadband to these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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). The company is required to provide services, using a mix of technologies, to all fixed residences and businesses that are located within the NBS Coverage Area and which seek a service. 3 continues to progress its network rollout and services have gone live in almost half of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under the Scheme.

With particular reference to County Clare, the table below shows the 49 EDs to be covered under the NBS in the County and highlights the 32 EDs that can now avail of the NBS broadband services. Details of all the areas to be covered by the NBS, including the status of the NBS rollout, are available at www.three.ie/nbs. Under the NBS contract, all EDs in the NBS Coverage Area will have broadband connectivity by end September 2010. My Department is currently considering a request from 3 for a short extension to the roll-out period due to delays in network construction during the recent adverse weather conditions.

It is accepted that even after the full roll-out of the 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 Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. My Department is currently considering the detailed design and implementation of a scheme which would address the issue of unserved rural premises outside of the NBS areas.

It is hoped to commence the scheme this year with the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband and to have the scheme completed by 2012. State Aid approval has been granted by the European Commission as part of the overall process of securing the necessary approvals and funding for the scheme.

Electoral Divisions (EDs) included under the NBS in County Clare

Note: Highlighted EDs have NBS service

ED NameED Reference No.
Abbey ED37001
Ayle ED37003
Ballyeighter ED37008
Ballynacally ED37010
Cahermurphy ED37019
Carran ED37022
Castletown ED37025
Clondagad ED37030
Cloonadrum ED37031
Cloonanaha ED37032
Clooney ED37034
Clooney ED37035
Cloontra ED37036
Coolmeen ED37038
Cooraclare ED37040
Creegh ED37044
Derreen ED37047
Doonbeg ED37049
Drumellihy ED37052
Fahymore ED37060
Feakle ED37061
Gleninagh ED37065
Glenmore ED37066
Kilfenora ED37075
Kilfiddane ED37076
Killadysert ED37079
Killanena ED37081
KIllard ED37083
Killimer ED37087
Killokennedy ED37090
Killuran ED37092
Kilmihil ED37093
Kilmurry ED37094
Kilseily ED37100
Kiltannon ED37102
Kiltoraght ED37104
Knock ED37106
Knocknaboley ED37107
Knockagore ED37108
Kyle ED37109
Lackareagh ED37110
Liscasey ED37112
Loughea ED37115
Newgrove ED37127
Noughaval ED37129
Oughtmama ED37132
Rathborney ED37137
Rathclooney ED37138
Tullycreen ED37152

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