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
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AGHADOE
|
ED 77002
|
ARDEA
|
ED 77006
|
BAHAGHS
|
ED 77009
|
BALLINSKELLIGS
|
ED 77011
|
BALLYBRACK
|
ED 77013
|
BALLYDUFF
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ED 77016
|
BANAWN
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ED 77026
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BOOLTEENS
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ED 77031
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BRANDON
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ED 77032
|
BREWSTERFIELD
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ED 77033
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BROSNA
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ED 77034
|
CANUIG
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ED 77037
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CAPPAGH
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ED 77038
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CARKER
|
ED 77039
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CARRAGH
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ED 77040
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CASTLEGREGORY
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ED 77043
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CHURCHTOWN
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ED 77047
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CLOGHANE
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ED 77048
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CLOON
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ED 77050
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CLOONTUBBRID
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ED 77051
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CLYDAGH
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ED 77052
|
COOLIES
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ED 77053
|
COOM
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ED 77054
|
CORDAL
|
ED 77055
|
CRINNY
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ED 77056
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CURRAGHBEG
|
ED 77057
|
CURRAGHMORE
|
ED 77058
|
DARRYNANE
|
ED 77060
|
DAWROS
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ED 77061
|
DEELIS
|
ED 77062
|
DERREEN
|
ED 77063
|
DERRIANA
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ED 77064
|
DOOCARRIG
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ED 77066
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DROMMARTIN
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ED 77069
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DROMORE
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ED 77070
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DUAGH
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ED 77071
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DUNQUIN
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ED 77073
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DUNURLIN
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ED 77074
|
EMLAGH
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ED 77075
|
FLESK
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ED 77077
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GLANBEHY
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ED 77078
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GLANLEE
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ED 77079
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GLANLOUGH
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ED 77080
|
GLANMORE
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ED 77081
|
GLIN
|
ED 77082
|
GNEEVES
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ED 77083
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GREENANE
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ED 77084
|
HEADFORT
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ED 77087
|
INCH
|
ED 77088
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KERRYHEAD
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ED 77090
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KILCUMMIN
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ED 77092
|
KILFEIGHNY
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ED 77093
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KILFLYN
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ED 77095
|
KILGARRYLANDER
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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
|