Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010
924 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 801 of 9 July 2009, the position regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1404/10]
View answerThe position remains that any future broadband investment decisions, including investment in any further phases of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, will be guided by (i) the policy paper on Next Generation Broadband, which was published in June 2009 (ii) the Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the MANs Programme, which was published in July 2008 and (iii) the availability of resources.
My officials are currently analysing potential options for further investment under the MANs Programme in the light of the above.
925 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made to date in the provision of broadband to rural areas under the national broadband scheme; the areas of County Clare which remain without broadband; his plans to extend broadband to these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/10]
View answerIn December 2008, my Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). The company is required to provide services, using a mix of technologies, to all fixed residences and businesses that are located within the NBS Coverage Area and which seek a service. 3 continues to progress its network rollout and services have gone live in almost half of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under the Scheme.
With particular reference to County Clare, the table below shows the 49 EDs to be covered under the NBS in the County and highlights the 32 EDs that can now avail of the NBS broadband services. Details of all the areas to be covered by the NBS, including the status of the NBS rollout, are available at www.three.ie/nbs. Under the NBS contract, all EDs in the NBS Coverage Area will have broadband connectivity by end September 2010. My Department is currently considering a request from 3 for a short extension to the roll-out period due to delays in network construction during the recent adverse weather conditions.
It is accepted that even after the full roll-out of the NBS there will still be a small percentage of premises that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.). The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. My Department is currently considering the detailed design and implementation of a scheme which would address the issue of unserved rural premises outside of the NBS areas.
It is hoped to commence the scheme this year with the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband and to have the scheme completed by 2012. State Aid approval has been granted by the European Commission as part of the overall process of securing the necessary approvals and funding for the scheme.
|
ED Name |
ED Reference No. |
|
Abbey ED* |
37001 |
|
Ayle ED* |
37003 |
|
Ballyeighter ED* |
37008 |
|
Ballynacally ED* |
37010 |
|
Cahermurphy ED* |
37019 |
|
Carran ED |
37022 |
|
Castletown ED* |
37025 |
|
Clondagad ED* |
37030 |
|
Cloonadrum ED* |
37031 |
|
Cloonanaha ED |
37032 |
|
Clooney ED |
37034 |
|
Clooney ED* |
37035 |
|
Cloontra ED |
37036 |
|
Coolmeen ED* |
37038 |
|
Cooraclare ED* |
37040 |
|
Creegh ED* |
37044 |
|
Derreen ED |
37047 |
|
Doonbeg ED* |
37049 |
|
Drumellihy ED* |
37052 |
|
Fahymore ED |
37060 |
|
Feakle ED* |
37061 |
|
Gleninagh ED |
37065 |
|
Glenmore ED |
37066 |
|
Kilfenora ED* |
37075 |
|
Kilfiddane ED* |
37076 |
|
Killadysert ED |
37079 |
|
Killanena ED* |
37081 |
|
KIllard ED* |
37083 |
|
Killimer ED* |
37087 |
|
Killokennedy ED |
37090 |
|
Killuran ED* |
37092 |
|
Kilmihil ED* |
37093 |
|
Kilmurry ED* |
37094 |
|
Kilseily ED* |
37100 |
|
Kiltannon ED* |
37102 |
|
Kiltoraght ED |
37104 |
|
Knock ED* |
37106 |
|
Knocknaboley ED |
37107 |
|
Knockagore ED* |
37108 |
|
Kyle ED* |
37109 |
|
Lackareagh ED |
37110 |
|
Liscasey ED* |
37112 |
|
Loughea ED* |
37115 |
|
Newgrove ED |
37127 |
|
Noughaval ED* |
37129 |
|
Oughtmama ED |
37132 |
|
Rathborney ED |
37137 |
|
Rathclooney ED |
37138 |
|
Tullycreen ED* |
37152 |
Note: *Highlighted EDs have NBS service.
