Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

There were 698,000 broadband subscribers in Ireland at end of quarter two of 2007 according to official figures from ComReg. Since then, the 700,000 target has been achieved and I am confident the final figure for the end of 2007 will greatly exceed 700,000. This 698,000 figure is equivalent to 16.48% of the population. At the start of 2005 only 3% of the population were broadband subscribers and 6.76% of the population at the start of 2006. This is significant progress by any measure.

A draft policy paper on next generation broadband is being prepared by my Department, which will review current communications infrastructure policy, and analyse policy options in light of industry developments. This will give guidance on the optimum role for Government in the planning and roll-out of broadband. It will be in this context that any new targets may be set.

My Department has undertaken initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These include providing grant-aid under the recently concluded group broadband scheme and investment in Metropolitan Area Networks, MANs.

Despite these Government initiatives there are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, the procurement process for a national broadband scheme is under way. The national broadband scheme will provide broadband services to areas that are currently not served and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in those areas are met.

My Department is anticipating that the award of the national broadband scheme contract will be in quarter two of 2008, with roll-out of the services due to begin as soon as possible thereafter. This timeline is subject to negotiations with candidates during the competitive dialogue phase of the procurement process.

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