John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of households in Waterford city and county with broadband services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46739/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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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 Waterford.

While my Department does not hold information on broadband penetration by region, ComReg publishes quarterly statistical reports on national developments in the fixed-line, mobile and broadband communications markets. These reports demonstrate the significant progress in broadband roll-out over recent years. At the end of June 2010 Ireland had in the region of 1.48 million broadband subscriptions and narrowband connections had reduced to less than 5% of all Internet connections. The year-on-year growth in subscriptions over the preceding 12-month period from June 2009 was over 16.5%.

Broadband services are now available throughout the entire National Broadband Scheme (NBS) area. A list of the Electoral Divisions (EDs) covered in County Waterford is provided below. In summary, broadband services in the NBS EDs in the county are available to 97.99% of premises by means of mobile wireless broadband coverage, with coverage to the balance of 2.01% of premises being provided by way of satellite. 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, subject to Government approval, to formally announce the launch of 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.

National Broadband Scheme (NBS)

Electoral Divisions (ED) Covered by the NBS in County Waterford

ED Name Reference No.

BALLYDUFF ED 227004

BALLYDURN ED 227005

BALLYNAMULT ED 227013

BALLYSAGGART MORE ED 227014

BOHADOON ED 227015

CARRIGCASTLE ED 227019

CASTLERICHARD ED 227021

CLASHMORE ED 227022

COLLIGAN ED 227025

COMERAGH ED 227026

COUMARAGLIN ED 227027

FEWS ED 227038

FOX'S CASTLE ED 227039

GARDENMORRIS ED 227040

GEORGESTOWN 227041

GLEN ED 227042

GRAIGNAGOWER ED 227045

GURTEEN ED 227048

KILBARRYMEADEN ED 227052

KILCOCKAN ED 227053

KILWATERMOY EAST ED 227062

KNOCKAUNBRANDAUN ED 227065

KNOCKMAHON ED 227066

MOCOLLOP ED 227068

MODELLIGO ED 227070

MOUNTKENNEDY ED 227072

Electoral Divisions (ED) Covered by the NBS in County Waterford

ED Name Reference No.

RATHGORMUCK ED 227078

ROSS ED 227082

SESKINAN ED 227083

TEMPLEMICHAEL ED 227087

TINNASAGGART ED 227088