Written answers
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Telecommunications Services
10:00 am
Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 268: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the arrangements he has made for locations (details supplied) in County Donegal who are not included in the rollout of the national broadband scheme and who are unable to avail of broadband in their areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46989/10]
Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he plans to launch the rural broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46990/10]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 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.
Broadband services are now available throughout the entire National Broadband Scheme area and a list of the Electoral Divisions (EDs) covered by the NBS in County Donegal is provided below.
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. Un-served premises in Crove Upper, Carrick, County Donegal, will be eligible to apply under the 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. This process will be technology neutral â 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
Electoral Divisions(ED) Covered by the NBS in County Donegal
ED Name ED Reference No.
ALTNAPASTE ED 57001
ARAN ED 57003
ARDMALIN ED 57005
ARDS ED 57006
BALLINTRA ED 57007
BALLINTRA ED 57008
BALLYSHANNON URBAN ED 57012
BINBANE ED 57014
CARROWKEEL ED 57025
CARTHAGE ED 57026
CAVANGARDEN ED 57031
CHURCH-HILL ED 57032
CLIFF ED 57033
CLOGHAN ED 57034
CLOGHER ED 57036
CREENASMEAR ED 57043
CREESLOUGH ED 57044
CROVEHY ED 57046
DOE CASTLE ED 57052
DUNAFF ED 57056
DUNLEWY 57060
EANYMORE ED 57061
FANAD NORTH ED 57064
FANAD WEST ED 57065
FEDDYGLASS ED 57066
FINTOWN ED 57068
GARTAN ED 57069
GLEN ED 57070
GLENALLA ED 57071
GLENLEHEEN ED 57076
GORTAHORK ED 57081
GRAFFY ED 57083
GROUSEHALL ED 57090
KILGOLY ED 57094
KILLYMASNY ED 57099
LAGHY ED 57104
LETTERMACAWARD ED 57108
LOUGH EASK ED 57110
Electoral Divisions(ED) Covered by the NBS in County Donegal
ED Name ED Reference No.
MAAS ED 57112
MALIN ED 57116
MALINBEG ED 57117
MEENACLADY ED 57119
MEENCARGAGH ED 57120
PETTIGOE ED 57126
SEACOR ED 57134
ST JOHNSTOWN ED 57135
TAWNAWULLY ED 57139
TEMPLECARN ED 57140
TEMPLEDOUGLAS ED 57141
TERMON ED 57142
TULLYNAUGHT ED 57146
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