Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
158 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his Departments plans to provide broadband to Kenmare Town, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14701/04]
View answerAlthough the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the companies operating in a fully liberalised private sector regulated by the Commission for Telecommunications Regulation, it is evident that the market has failed to address regional broadband and infrastructural deficits. As a response to this failure an indicative €200 million was made available under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 for regional telecommunications infrastructure investments to ensure the availability of high-speed services in all regions.
My Department has a dedicated website www.broadband.gov.ie where anyone can check the availability of broadband in their area. The website currently shows that broadband is available in Kenmare from two DSL providers, Netsource and Pure Telecom Limited, and from five satellite providers, Digiweb, Mediasatellite, Orbitlink, Applied Solutions and Pure Telecom Limited.
We are pushing ahead with the regional broadband programme, which will extend broadband connectivity to over 90 towns, including Kenmare, in addition to the 19 high-capacity metropolitan area networks that are now nearing completion. The number of broadband customers continues to rise dramatically — there are now over almost 40,000 DSL subscribers, and over 50,000 customers using flat rate Internet access.
