Finian McGrath
Ceist:214 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll-out of the rural broadband scheme. [44510/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 25 November 2010
Ceisteanna (214, 215)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:215 Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to include north Sligo and Leitrim in the next roll out of rural broadband to be announced. [44571/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. Service providers' decisions to provide broadband services in areas are taken on the basis of commercial viability. Such decisions are matters for the service providers concerned.
ComReg's website www.callcosts.ie provides detailed information on the various private sector telecommunications products and services available on a county by county basis including counties Sligo and Leitrim.
It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be a small percentage of premises throughout the country 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. Using this funding, which will be augmented by an Exchequer contribution, I intend, subject to Government approval, to launch a Rural Broadband Scheme by the end of the year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) areas.
There will be a competitive process to engage a service provider who will offer a broadband service to qualified applicants under the scheme. While the exact details have yet to be finalised, I expect that the service offered under this scheme would at least match the service offered under the NBS. This process will be technology neutral — it will be a matter for the bidders to decide which technical approach they propose in their bids.
Information in relation to acceptance of applications and the process of qualification under the scheme will be made available in due course when the scheme is launched.