P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Coveney for tabling this important motion. Where is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, who is responsible for answering this motion? Has he gone to the airport to meet the Taoiseach after his grand European tour?

It is evident that the Government is dragging its feet on its commitment to make broadband available to 100% of the population as a matter of urgency. Every citizen should be treated equally as enshrined by the Constitution whether they live in Ballsbridge or Ballydonegan in Allihies on the Beara Peninsula. It is vital that the Minister provide an up-to-date report on progress, if any, every six months on the promised targets as outlined in Government policy on broadband. It is of paramount importance that the Minister ensures connections of next generation access quality to all schools and third level institutions to complement the Department of Education and Science's ICT and education strategy. The Government must invest sufficient money if broadband service is to be made available throughout the entire nation.

In May 2007, the former Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dempsey, launched the procurement process for the Government's new national broadband scheme. NBS will provide broadband services to reach the remaining areas of the country that are not broadband enabled. Later this week, the tender will move to the next phase, but it was hoped that a final decision would have been taken by the Department by the end of December 2007. Has the Department made its final decision, was Eircom's tender successful or will the people need to wait another decade before they get broadband in their areas?

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