Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
219 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the provision of broadband to the Ballymore Eustace area of Kildare; the timescale in regard to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29031/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by ComReg, the Commission for Communications Regulation.
The Government set aside an indicative €200 million under the NDP 2000-2006 for broadband infrastructure investment will enable the provision of broadband services regionally by the private sector.
Metropolitan area networks, MANs, are being built in 26 towns and cities, in association with the local authorities. These are being managed for the State on an open access basis, and offer a wide range of broadband services on a wholesale basis to the service providers. In the second phase of the programme MANs will be built in a further 92 towns with a population of 1,500 and over.
For smaller towns and rural communities, such as Ballymore Eustace, I have introduced the group broadband scheme, under which funding is available to assist the community to come together and, with the service providers, to obtain broadband for their area using the technology that best suits the location, such as wireless, satellite or fibre.
My Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie gives full details of the companies offering broadband in all parts of the country, and lists five companies offering satellite-based broadband services in west Wicklow.
Full details of the regional broadband programme and the group broadband scheme can be found on my Department's websites www.dcmnr.gov.ie and www.gbs.ie.
