9/8/2006 Dear Eoin, I enclose herewith correspondence received in response to representations made on your behaif. If and when further information is to hand I shahl be in touch with you again. But failing further response within a reasonable period, you might remind me so that a satisfactory conclusion can be reached. Yours sincerely, Bemard J. Durkan T.D. Enclosure Letter from Dept of Communication Marine & Natural Resources Litir 2/8/2006 Dear Eoin, I wish to acknowledge your recent enquiry m relation to provision ofbroadband services m the Connemara area, as received from my colleague, Deputy Padraic McCormack. I have initiated urgent enquiries on your behaif with the relevant department and as soon as a reply is to hand I will be iii touch with you again. In the event of an undue delay in achieving a conclusion, please do not hesitate to contact me so that I m turn can reactivate the matter. Yours sincerely, Bernard J. Durkan T.D. A Bhernard, Gura maith agat as an litir 2ú lá Lúnasa 2006 faoin easpa seirbhís leathan bhanda anseo ar an gCaorán. Tá mé á lorg san ó 2003 agus níl tuairim agam caithin a bheidh sé agam. Scríobh mé faoi dhó chuig an Aire gan fhreagra ar bith. Rinne Pádraic McCormack roinnt taighde faoi dom ach fós ní raibh sé i ndon aon eolas faoi caithin a mbeidh an seirbhís anseo. Ait go leor dá mba rud é go rabhas i dTuaisceart Éireann ní bheadh fadhb ar bith agam. Go n-éirí le do chuid iarrachtaí. Mise le meas ort ríomh-p: Eoin Ó Riain 8/8/2006

A Chara Eoin,
I am attaching, merely for your information, recent Parliamentary Questions raised by my colleagues in relation to the area of Broadband.
Is mise, le meas,
Padraic Mac Cormaic, T.D.
Ceangaltán: Broadband PQ's for February 2006 (sic)

A Theachta Mhic Chormaic,
Gura maith agat as do theachtaireacht inniú.
Tá an ceangaltán spéisiúl cé nach fhreagraíonn sé mo cheist.
Nach íontach an rud é nach bhfuil aon fhocal Gaeilge san díospóireact sa Dáil ar an ábhar seo nó ar shuíomh na Ranna Cumarsáide!
Mise le meas

Eoin, A Chara,
Go raibh maith agat as ucht do réamhphoist maidir le Banda Leathan i nGaillimh Thiar.
Tá mé fós i dteangmháil leis na hAiri éagsula faoi seo agus nuair a bhéas scéal fáite ar ais agam, beidh mé ag scríobh chugat arís. Cheapaim gur seirbhís riachtanach é seo agus bá choir go mbeadh sé ar fail in áiteanna cosúil le Chois Fharraige.
Is mise, le meas,
Padraic Mac Cormaic, T.D.

Do: Eoin Ó Riain
Ábhar: Re: Banda Leathan i nGaillimh Thiar?
Ó: padraic.mccormack@oireachtas.ie
Dáta: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 09:45:15 +0000

Rian, A Chara,
I raised the matter regarding the lack of broadband facilities in the Chois Fharraige area with Minister O'Cuív (sic) in the Dáil and am now attaching, for your information, his reply.
Is mise, le meas,
Padraic MacCormaic, T.D.

Dáta: 13/3/2006 Ó: Eoin Ó Riain Do: Padraic MacCormaic, T.D. A Phádraig, Gura maith agat as leanúint ar aghaidh leis seo dom. Táim thar a bheith buíoch díot. Tá an eolas atá sa freagra a thug an Aire mícheart. Seo cóip de ríomh phoist a fuair mé ó Údarás na Gaeltachta: "At 11:38 +0000 14/02/2006, ó Mhairéad Mhic Fhionnlaoich: A Eoin, a chara, Níor thug an tÚdarás aon deontas ná cabhair airgid do Com 1. Tá an comhantú agus an dualgas i leith na scéime seo idir Com1 agus an Roinn. Le gach dea-ghuí Mairéad Mhic Fhionnlaoich, Feidhmeannach Cumarsáide, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha Gaillimh" Tugaim faoi deara leis go nglaonn sé "The Cois Fharraige Business Broadband Service" ar an scéim. Cad mar gheall ar an "gnáth duine"? Comh maith le sin chuala mé ar Raidío na Gaeltachta nach féidir leis an chóras atá ag COM1 seirbhís a sholathar níos faide siar na Baile an tSagart soir ón Spidéal. Ní féidir le héinne istig sa Spidéal nó siar uaidh a ceangal le chóras COM1 Seo an cinéal míthuiscint a chuireann ar seachrán muid. Mise le meas Eoin Ó Riain

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION Nos. 153 & 157
Dáil Eireann

To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the grant aid which has been made available from his Department to Údarás na Gaeltachta for the provision of a broadband radio system for the Chois Fharraige area, south Connemara; when is it likely that the necessary equipment will be erected there to provide a signal for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Padraic McCormack.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 2nd March, 2006.
Ref No: 8649/06 Proof: 204
To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the plans his Department have for the provision of broadband services in west Galway particularly in Chois Fharraige; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Padraic McCormack.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 2nd March, 2006.
Ref No: 8648/06
REPLY
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr N Dempsey)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 157 together.
The 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 the independent Commission for Communications Regulation
Under the second phase of the group broadband scheme administered by my Department grant aid of up to €41,173 was awarded to service provider, COM 1, for the Cois Fharraige Business Broadband Service. Údarás na Gaeltachta is the local organisation supporting the scheme. I have been informed that the project is operational and customers have been connected.