Written answers

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Broadband Services Provision

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the totally inadequate broadband connectivity service available in many parts of County Donegal; when the telecommunications infrastructure in the county will be upgraded to provide adequate service for both households and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31288/14]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas.

Since publication of the Plan, investments by the commercial sector have accelerated with commercial operators investing, or committing to invest, approximately €2.5 billion in networks and services. I understand that at least one network operator has published a programme to roll out 59 fibre-based broadband networks in County Donegal by July 2016. In addition the recent announcement of a joint venture between ESB and Vodafone includes a proposal to provide high speed broadband in Letterkenny.

The Government has committed to an ambitious plan which involves ensuring the delivery of broadband services to those parts of rural Ireland that will not be served by the commercial sector. Services will be delivered over a network, with fibre at its foundation, which is sustainable and guarantees a quality broadband service to rural consumers into the future. This will be the key element of an intervention strategy that will ensure that all citizens and businesses can access high speed broadband services regardless of where they live.

Under EU State Aid Guidelines Member States cannot intervene where commercial investors have plans to roll out services. A comprehensive mapping exercise is underway in my Department, to identify those areas that require a State intervention. An initial list has already been identified and includes 78 areas in County Donegal.

A stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the State-led intervention has recently been launched and will feed into the mapping exercise, which I expect to conclude in the autumn. It is my intention to conduct a full public consultation on the outcome of the mapping process and the proposed intervention strategy. EU State aid clearance will also be required. This will be followed by a detailed procurement process with a view to commencing the roll out of high speed broadband services as quickly as possible.

It is my intention to progress this complex and ambitious project as a key priority. I believe that it will address current connectivity challenges in a sustainable and meaningful way and will ensure that rural Ireland can enjoy comparable levels of quality and service as those experienced in urban areas.

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