Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the national mapping process to identify those areas which would not be served with high-speed broadband without State intervention is complete for County Donegal; and if not, the percentage of the county which remains to be mapped and when he expects the mapping process to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44935/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The objective of the national mapping exercise under the National Broadband Plan is to identify and map current and planned broadband services, both basic and next generation access (NGA). The process for participating in the mapping exercise has been published on my Department's website () and notified to all undertakings authorised by ComReg. Information has been sought from participating operators in respect of current coverage as well as investments planned up to July 2016 and beyond, where appropriate.

Mapping data has been submitted to my Department by a total of 23 operators and the process of analysing the data and supporting information is now underway. The mapping data is being assessed on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the EU State Aid Guidelines, not on a county by county basis. Accordingly, it is not possible to categorise the mapping in terms of percentages of particular counties. When all of the information has been analysed, a clear picture should emerge of coverage throughout all of the country, including County Donegal.

It is my intention to publish the map showing existing and planned NGA broadband coverage early next year, along with the Government's proposals for a State-led intervention to roll out high speed broadband across the country.