AQW 45833/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 15/05/2015
Answered On Date: 22/05/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how her Department is working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to maximize the numbers of rural dwellers accessing high speed broadband.

Answer:

My Department has provided a total of £7.5m to date, split £2.5m to the Next Generation Broadband project and £5m to the NI Broadband Improvement Project, both being delivered on the ground by Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI). These funds have resulted in 17,000 and 14,000 rural premises being able to access broadband if they so wish. My officials work closely with their counterparts in DETI on a day to day basis regarding broadband.