Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1552: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the arrangements he has made for Ballyporeen, County Tipperary, to be taken into the national broadband scheme in view of an announcement (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many people locally need broadband and cannot wait until that date; if it is possible for an alternative to be provided to the NBS, in view of the fact that he will not sanction areas to be added at this point in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32514/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The rollout of broadband services to the areas designated under the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is nearing completion and there are no plans to extend the scope of the Scheme. Prior to the commencement of the NBS a detailed mapping exercise was carried out to help determine those areas that would be included in the scheme and those which, by virtue of being already substantially served by existing broadband suppliers, could not be included.

That mapping exercise found that a number of existing broadband suppliers were already active in the area referred to in the Deputy's Question and consequently the locality was excluded from the Scheme in accordance with EU State Aid and competition rules. Details of broadband services available in each county can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie.

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be a small percentage of premises throughout the country 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. Using this funding, which will be augmented by an Exchequer contribution, I intend to formally launch a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of this year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 1553: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will have broadband connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32516/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Prior to the commencement of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) a detailed mapping exercise was carried out to help determine those areas that would be included in the scheme and those which, by virtue of being already substantially served by existing broadband suppliers, could not be included. EU State aid and competition rules govern how states can intervene in areas where there are existing service providers operating. Accordingly, the NBS is prohibited from providing a service in served areas where to do so would give rise to an unacceptable level of market distortion.

That mapping exercise found that a number of existing broadband suppliers were already active in the area referred to in the Deputy's Question and consequently the locality was excluded from the Scheme. Details of broadband services available in each county can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be a small percentage of premises throughout the country 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 design and implementation of a scheme which would use this funding to address the issue of basic broadband availability to un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas. This work will include the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband. It is my intention to commence this scheme in late 2010 and have it completed by 2012. Information in relation to acceptance of applications and the process of qualification under the scheme will be made available when the scheme is launched.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 1554: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the rollout of the national broadband scheme in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32811/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Details of all the areas to be covered by the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), including the current status of the NBS rollout, are available at www.three.ie/nbs. Under the NBS contract, all Electoral Divisions (EDs) in the NBS Coverage Area must have broadband coverage by late October 2010.

With particular reference to County Cork, all of the 96 designated EDs within the county can now avail of NBS broadband services. The following table lists all of these 96 EDs.