Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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354. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the rural broadband scheme; the number of applicants who received broadband from a service provider prior to departmental procurement; the number provided with a service and location following departmental procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41872/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched 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. This Scheme was aimed at making a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural areas, not already covered by the National Broadband Scheme.

The Application Phase of the RBS closed in July 2011 and my Department received 5,000 applications. Of these, approximately 3,700 applications qualified under the terms of the Scheme. The details of these applicants were passed to participating Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who responded to my Department indicating those applicants to whom they were able to offer services.

A total of 29 companies participated in the Scheme and a total of 2011 applicants gave their consent to receive written offers of service from these ISPs. The participating ISPs wrote to these 2011 applicants in April 2012 with offers of service and 509 applicants took up a service.

As the ISPs participating in the Scheme offered services to those who agreed to engage with them without the need for subsidy, it was not necessary to procure a service provider for the Scheme. There was been no disbursement of public money for the provision of services through the Scheme.