Michael Ring
Ceist:699 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when broadband will be extended to an area (details supplied) in County Mayo. [22100/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 29 September 2004
Ceisteanna (518)
Freagraí scríofa
The 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 last 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.
In addition to this initiative, the group broadband scheme, which I launched in March last, 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. This initiative may be of particular interest to the people of Falduff.
Full details of the broadband roll-out programme are on my Department's websites, www.dcmnr.ie and www.gbs.gov.ie.