Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will respond to the unanimous resolution of Donegal County Council on 27 September calling on him to introduce a second phase of the national broadband scheme as a matter of urgency to ensure that all remaining areas in Donegal receive mobile internet broadband coverage, and that both ERNACT and the Information System's Department in Donegal County Council have a recognised input into the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42609/10]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the terms of the National Broadband Scheme contract, which require 3 to have provided coverage in all 1,028 electoral divisions (EDs) by end of October 2010; if he acknowledges that large sections of the electoral divisions are still without broadband coverage in November 2010; if he has engaged with 3 on this matter since 1 November 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42610/10]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a full report from 3 regarding broadband coverage in the 52 Donegal electoral districts that participate in the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42611/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 to 340, inclusive, together.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. ComReg's website www.callcosts.ie provides detailed information on the various private sector telecommunications products and services available on a county by county basis, including County Donegal.

In cases of market failure the Government will intervene, where it is appropriate and possible to do so. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) represents such an intervention.

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.

In determining the Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered by the NBS, my Department conducted a detailed mapping exercise in 2008 of the levels of broadband coverage existing throughout the country at that time. The coverage analysis determined that of the 149 EDs within County Donegal, 52 were eligible for inclusion in the NBS on the basis of insufficient broadband coverage.

The provision of broadband services under the NBS advanced incrementally over a 22 month period and services are now available throughout the entire NBS area. A list of the 52 EDs covered by the NBS in County Donegal, together with the relevant broadband coverage details is provided in the table below. My Department and its external consultants actively monitor coverage within the NBS areas. In summary, broadband services in the NBS EDs in County Donegal are available to 98.55% of premises by means of mobile wireless broadband coverage, with coverage to the balance of 1.45% of premises being provided by way of satellite.

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.

There will be a competitive process to engage a service provider who will offer a broadband service to qualified applicants under the scheme. While the exact details have yet to be finalised, I expect that the service offered under this scheme would at least match the service offered under the NBS. This process will be technology neutral – it will be a matter for the bidders to decide which technical approach they propose in their bids.

Information in relation to acceptance of applications and the process of qualification under the scheme will be made available in due course when the scheme is launched.

I am satisfied therefore that between the services being provided by the commercial operators, the service now available trough the NBS and the forthcoming RBS which will target individual un-served premises, the county of Donegal will very shortly be fully served from a broadband perspective.

NBS Coverage Details in County Donegal