Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
711 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason broadband technology is not available to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will address the concerns raised in the enclosed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22552/04]
View answerThe provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, under the regulation of ComReg, the Commission for Communications Regulation.
In its report on Ireland's broadband future, published in December 2003, the Information Society Commission concluded that the market has failed to respond to the demand for broadband connectivity, and there is a proven need for Government intervention to accelerate the provision of infrastructure and the driving of demand. In December 2003 I announced my Department's broadband action plan, which will see broadband connectivity rolled out to over 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and over, using community broadband exchanges and strategic fibre. A spend of €35 million each year from now until 2007 has been committed to the broadband action plan. Sligo is one of the towns listed for inclusion.
In addition to this initiative, the group broadband scheme, which I launched in March 2003, will allow smaller communities to pool their requirements and obtain broadband connectivity from a range of service providers, with €25 million in funding assistance from Government. Full details of the broadband rollout programme are on my Department's websites, www.dcmnr.ie and www.gbs.gov.ie.
