Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2010
304 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a breakdown of the provision of broadband services in County Mayo and the rate of broadband take-up; the areas of the county currently not broadband-enabled and when broadband will be made available in the areas not covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46367/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. 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 County Mayo.
While my Department does not hold information on broadband penetration by region, ComReg publishes quarterly statistical reports on national developments in the fixed-line, mobile and broadband communications markets.
These reports demonstrate the significant progress in broadband roll-out over recent years. At the end of June 2010 Ireland had in the region of 1.48 million broadband subscriptions and narrowband connections had reduced to less than 5% of all Internet connections. The year-on-year growth in subscriptions over the preceding 12-month period from June 2009 was over 16.5%.
A list of the 112 Electoral Divisions (EDs) covered by the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in County Mayo is provided below. Broadband services are now available throughout the entire NBS area. My Department and its external consultants actively monitor coverage within the NBS areas. In summary, broadband services in the NBS EDs in County Mayo are available to 98.66% of premises by means of mobile wireless broadband coverage, with coverage to the balance of 1.34 % of premises being provided by way of satellite.
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 formally announce the launch of a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of this year. This scheme will aim to provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside of the 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.
|
Electoral Divisions(ED) Covered by the NBS in County Mayo |
|
|---|---|
|
ED Name |
ED Reference No. |
|
ADDERGOOLE ED |
157002 |
|
AGHAGOWER NORTH ED |
157003 |
|
AGHAGOWER SOUTH ED |
157004 |
|
AGHAMORE ED |
157005 |
|
AILLEMORE ED |
157006 |
|
AN GEATA MOR THEAS ED |
157007 |
|
AN GEATA MOR THUAIDH ED |
157008 |
|
ARDNAREE NORTH ED |
157010 |
|
ATTYMASS EAST ED |
157012 |
|
ATTYMASS WEST ED |
157013 |
|
BALLINCHALLA ED |
157019 |
|
BALLYCASTLE ED |
157022 |
|
BALLYCROY NORTH ED |
157023 |
|
BALLYCROY SOUTH ED |
157024 |
|
BALLYNAGORAHER ED |
157028 |
|
BALLYOVEY ED |
157029 |
|
BALLYSAKEERY ED |
157030 |
|
BANGOR ED |
157031 |
|
BARROOSKY ED |
157032 |
|
BEKAN ED |
157033 |
|
BELDERGMORE ED |
157034 |
|
BELMULLET ED |
157036 |
|
BOHOLA ED |
157037 |
|
BRACKLOON ED |
157038 |
|
BUNAVEELA ED |
157040 |
|
BUNDORRAGHA ED |
157041 |
|
BURRISCARRA ED |
157043 |
|
CALLOW ED |
157044 |
|
CAPPAGHDUFF ED |
157045 |
|
CARAUN ED |
157046 |
|
CARROWMORE ED |
157047 |
|
CLARE ISLAND ED |
157050 |
|
CLOGHER ED |
157052 |
|
CLOGHER ED |
157053 |
|
CLOGHERMORE ED |
157054 |
|
CLOONMORE ED |
157056 |
|
COOLNAHA ED |
157058 |
|
COONARD ED |
157059 |
|
CORRAUN ACHILL ED |
157060 |
|
COURSE ED |
157061 |
|
CROAGHMOYLE ED |
157062 |
|
CROAGHPATRICK ED |
157063 |
|
CROSSMOLINA SOUTH ED |
157066 |
|
CUILDOO ED |
157067 |
|
CULNACLEHA ED |
157068 |
|
DALGAN ED |
157069 |
|
DEEL ED |
157070 |
|
DERRY ED |
157071 |
|
DERRYLOUGHAN ED |
157072 |
|
DOOCASTLE ED |
157073 |
|
DOOEGA ED |
157074 |
|
DRUMMIN ED |
157075 |
|
ERRIFF ED |
157077 |
|
FORTLAND ED |
157078 |
|
GARRYMORE ED |
157079 |
|
GLENAMOY ED |
157080 |
|
GLENCASTLE ED |
157081 |
|
GLENCO ED |
157082 |
|
GLENHEST ED |
157083 |
|
GOOLAMORE ED |
157084 |
|
HOLLYMOUNT ED |
157085 |
|
HOUNDSWOOD ED |
157086 |
|
ISLANDEADY ED |
157087 |
|
KILBEAGH ED |
157088 |
|
KILCOMMON ED |
157090 |
|
KILFIAN EAST ED |
157091 |
|
KILFIAN SOUTH ED |
157092 |
|
KILFIAN WEST ED |
157093 |
|
KILGARVAN ED |
157094 |
|
KILGEEVER ED |
157095 |
|
KILKELLY ED |
157096 |
|
KILLALA ED |
157097 |
|
KILLAVALLY ED |
157098 |
|
KILLEDAN ED |
157099 |
|
KILMACLASSER ED |
157100 |
|
KILMAINE ED |
157101 |
|
KILMEENA ED |
157102 |
|
KILSALLAGH ED |
157104 |
|
KILVINE ED |
157106 |
|
KNAPPAGH ED |
157107 |
|
KNOCK SOUTH ED |
157109 |
|
KNOCKADAFF ED |
157110 |
|
KNOCKNALOWER ED |
157111 |
|
LACKAN NORTH ED |
157112 |
|
LACKAN SOUTH ED |
157113 |
|
LETTERBRICK ED |
157114 |
|
MAYO ED |
157118 |
|
MEELICK ED |
157119 |
|
MOUNT FALCON ED |
157120 |
|
MUINGNABO ED |
157121 |
|
MUINGS ED |
157122 |
|
MURNEEN ED |
157123 |
|
NEALE ED |
157124 |
|
NEWBROOK ED |
157125 |
|
NEWPORT EAST ED |
157126 |
|
NEWPORT WEST ED |
157127 |
|
OWENBRIN ED |
157128 |
|
OWENNADORNAUN ED |
157129 |
|
PORTROYAL ED |
157131 |
|
RATHHILL ED |
157132 |
|
RATHOMA ED |
157133 |
|
ROSLEE ED |
157134 |
|
SALLYMOUNT ED |
157135 |
|
SHESKIN ED |
157136 |
|
SHRULE ED |
157137 |
|
SLIEVEMAHANAGH ED |
157138 |
|
SONNAGH ED |
157140 |
|
SRAHMORE ED |
157142 |
|
TAGHEEN ED |
157145 |
|
TAWNYNAGRY ED |
157146 |
|
TOOCANANAGH ED |
157147 |
|
TUMGESH ED |
157149 |
