Written answers

Tuesday, 7 December 2010

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

11:00 am

Photo of Mary WallaceMary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 294: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he plans to make available the rural broadband scheme to provide a basic broadband service to individual unserved rural premises outside of the national broadband scheme areas, including such premises in County Meath; if he will outline the list of areas in County Meath which can expect to benefit from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45956/10]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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2057The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

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. Broadband services are now available throughout the entire NBS area.

A list of the Electoral Divisions covered by the NBS in County Meath is detailed in the table below.

However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be isolated cases of premises throughout the country that are not capable of receiving a broadband service. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (e.g., suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, or no 'line of sight' from the premises to the wireless base station).

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, subject to Government approval, to formally announce the launch a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of the year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas. In the case of County Meath, un-served premises other than those covered by the NBS will be eligible to apply under the new scheme.

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 and that the scheme will be fully rolled out by the end of 2012.

National Broadband Scheme (NBS)

Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered by the NBS in County Meath

ED Name ED Reference No.

ARDBRACCAN ED 167002

BECTIVE ED 167011

CASTLEKEERAN ED 167016

CLOGHBRACK ED 167019

CLONMACDUFF ED 167020

CROSSKEYS ED 167022

DRUMCONDRA ED 167027

KILLALLON ED 167047

KILLARY ED 167048

KILLEAGH ED 167049

KILLYON ED 167051

KILMORE ED 167054

KNOCKLOUGH ED 167056

LOUGHAN ED 167058

MOYLAGH ED 167063

RATHKENNY ED 167075

RATHMORE ED 167076

TROHANNY ED 167092

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