Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when will County Kerry receive the same level of broadband connectivity as the East Coast, in view of the fact that Kerry is already at a disadvantage due to the county's omission from the BMW regional status, and the provision of high speech broadband will help the economy, generate investment and create jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28799/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available on a county-by-county basis can be found on the Commission for Communications Regulation's (ComReg) website at www.callcosts.ie.

The Government has undertaken a number of initiatives to bring broadband to those parts of the country where operators have been unable to offer services on a commercial basis. In the case of one such intervention, namely the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), services are available since October 2010 from the NBS service provider, 3, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in each of the 1,028 Electoral Divisions (ED) designated to be covered under the Scheme. That includes 85 EDs in County Kerry, which are listed in Appendix I.

The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched last year in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive broadband provision, due to technical difficulties such as line of sight issues. This Scheme, which is being rolled out this year, is aimed at making a basic broadband service available to those individual un-served premises in rural non-NBS areas who wish to avail of such services. My Department has received 67 eligible applications from County Kerry.

The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland will meet the EU Commission's Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.

With basic broadband services available throughout Ireland, the challenge now is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services. This Government accepts that the widespread availability of such speeds is required to deliver future economic and social development.

Following the recent publication of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT), and a short public consultation on its findings and recommendations, I will be bringing proposals for a National Broadband Plan to Government shortly with a view to agreeing a comprehensive set of policy actions to underpin the provision of high speed broadband services on a national basis.

National Broadband Scheme (NBS)

85 Electoral Divisions (ED) covered by the NBS in County Kerry

AGHADOE ED 77002

ARDEA ED 77006

BAHAGHS ED 77009

BALLINSKELLIGS ED 77011

BALLYBRACK ED 77013

BALLYDUFF ED 77016

BANAWN ED 77026

BOOLTEENS ED 77031

BRANDON ED 77032

BREWSTERFIELD ED 77033

BROSNA ED 77034

CANUIG ED 77037

CAPPAGH ED 77038

CARKER ED 77039

CARRAGH ED 77040

CASTLEGREGORY ED 77043

CHURCHTOWN ED 77047

CLOGHANE ED 77048

CLOON ED 77050

CLOONTUBBRID ED 77051

CLYDAGH ED 77052

COOLIES ED 77053

COOM ED 77054

CORDAL ED 77055

CRINNY ED 77056

CURRAGHBEG ED 77057

CURRAGHMORE ED 77058

DARRYNANE ED 77060

DAWROS ED 77061

DEELIS ED 77062

DERREEN ED 77063

DERRIANA ED 77064

DOOCARRIG ED 77066

DROMMARTIN ED 77069

DROMORE ED 77070

DUAGH ED 77071

DUNQUIN ED 77073

DUNURLIN ED 77074

EMLAGH ED 77075

FLESK ED 77077

GLANBEHY ED 77078

GLANLEE ED 77079

GLANLOUGH ED 77080

GLANMORE ED 77081

GLIN ED 77082

GNEEVES ED 77083

GREENANE ED 77084

HEADFORT ED 77087

INCH ED 77088

KERRYHEAD ED 77090

KILCUMMIN ED 77092

KILFEIGHNY ED 77093

KILFLYN ED 77095

KILGARRYLANDER ED 77096

KILGARVAN ED 77097

KILGOBBAN ED 77098

KILLINANE ED 77105

KILMALKEDAR ED 77108

KILMEANY ED 77109

KILMURRY ED 77110

KILNANARE ED 77111

KILQUANE ED 77112

KILSHENANE ED 77113

KNOCKNAGASHEL ED 77118

KNOCKNAHOE ED 77119

LACK ED 77120

LACKABAUN ED 77121

LICKEEN ED 77124

LOUGHBRIN ED 77130

LOUGHCURRANE ED 77131

MARHIN ED 77132

MASTERGEEHY ED 77133

MAUM ED 77134

MILLBROOK ED 77135

MOUNT EAGLE ED 77139

NEWTOWNSANDES ED 77142

NOHAVAL ED 77143

RATHEA ED 77147

RATHMORE ED 77148

ROCKFIELD ED 77150

ST FINAN'S ED 77154

TAHILLA ED 77156

TEERANEARAGH ED 77159

TRIENEARAGH ED 77162

VENTRY ED 77166