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Telecommunications Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2012

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Ceisteanna (91)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

92 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when will County Kerry receive the same level of broadband connectivity as the east coast, in view of the fact that Kerry is already at a disadvantage due to the county’s omission from the BMW regional status, and the provision of high speed broadband will help the economy, generate investment and create jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28799/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available on a county-by-county basis can be found on the Commission for Communications Regulation's (ComReg) website at www.callcosts.ie.

The Government has undertaken a number of initiatives to bring broadband to those parts of the country where operators have been unable to offer services on a commercial basis. In the case of one such intervention, namely the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), services are available since October 2010 from the NBS service provider, 3, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in each of the 1,028 Electoral Divisions (ED) designated to be covered under the Scheme. That includes 85 EDs in County Kerry, which are listed in Appendix I.

The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched last year in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive broadband provision, due to technical difficulties such as line of sight issues. This Scheme, which is being rolled out this year, is aimed at making a basic broadband service available to those individual un-served premises in rural non-NBS areas who wish to avail of such services. My Department has received 67 eligible applications from County Kerry.

The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland will meet the EU Commission's Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.

With basic broadband services available throughout Ireland, the challenge now is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services. This Government accepts that the widespread availability of such speeds is required to deliver future economic and social development.

Following the recent publication of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT), and a short public consultation on its findings and recommendations, I will be bringing proposals for a National Broadband Plan to Government shortly with a view to agreeing a comprehensive set of policy actions to underpin the provision of high speed broadband services on a national basis.

National Broadband Scheme (NBS)85 Electoral Divisions (ED) covered by the NBS in County Kerry

Electoral Divisions

AGHADOE

ED 77002

ARDEA

ED 77006

BAHAGHS

ED 77009

BALLINSKELLIGS

ED 77011

BALLYBRACK

ED 77013

BALLYDUFF

ED 77016

BANAWN

ED 77026

BOOLTEENS

ED 77031

BRANDON

ED 77032

BREWSTERFIELD

ED 77033

BROSNA

ED 77034

CANUIG

ED 77037

CAPPAGH

ED 77038

CARKER

ED 77039

CARRAGH

ED 77040

CASTLEGREGORY

ED 77043

CHURCHTOWN

ED 77047

CLOGHANE

ED 77048

CLOON

ED 77050

CLOONTUBBRID

ED 77051

CLYDAGH

ED 77052

COOLIES

ED 77053

COOM

ED 77054

CORDAL

ED 77055

CRINNY

ED 77056

CURRAGHBEG

ED 77057

CURRAGHMORE

ED 77058

DARRYNANE

ED 77060

DAWROS

ED 77061

DEELIS

ED 77062

DERREEN

ED 77063

DERRIANA

ED 77064

DOOCARRIG

ED 77066

DROMMARTIN

ED 77069

DROMORE

ED 77070

DUAGH

ED 77071

DUNQUIN

ED 77073

DUNURLIN

ED 77074

EMLAGH

ED 77075

FLESK

ED 77077

GLANBEHY

ED 77078

GLANLEE

ED 77079

GLANLOUGH

ED 77080

GLANMORE

ED 77081

GLIN

ED 77082

GNEEVES

ED 77083

GREENANE

ED 77084

HEADFORT

ED 77087

INCH

ED 77088

KERRYHEAD

ED 77090

KILCUMMIN

ED 77092

KILFEIGHNY

ED 77093

KILFLYN

ED 77095

KILGARRYLANDER

ED 77096

KILGARVAN

ED 77097

KILGOBBAN

ED 77098

KILLINANE

ED 77105

KILMALKEDAR

ED 77108

KILMEANY

ED 77109

KILMURRY

ED 77110

KILNANARE

ED 77111

KILQUANE

ED 77112

KILSHENANE

ED 77113

KNOCKNAGASHEL

ED 77118

KNOCKNAHOE

ED 77119

LACK

ED 77120

LACKABAUN

ED 77121

LICKEEN

ED 77124

LOUGHBRIN

ED 77130

LOUGHCURRANE

ED 77131

MARHIN

ED 77132

MASTERGEEHY

ED 77133

MAUM

ED 77134

MILLBROOK

ED 77135

MOUNT EAGLE

ED 77139

NEWTOWNSANDES

ED 77142

NOHAVAL

ED 77143

RATHEA

ED 77147

RATHMORE

ED 77148

ROCKFIELD

ED 77150

ST FINAN’S

ED 77154

TAHILLA

ED 77156

TEERANEARAGH

ED 77159

TRIENEARAGH

ED 77162

VENTRY

ED 77166

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