Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

ComReg found that 40% of Irish households had a broadband connection at the end of September 2007. I expect that ComReg data for the current quarter will confirm that we are now at the 50% household penetration mark.

Significant Government investment has given Ireland excellent international connectivity and helped reduce the cost of regional backhaul to allow private sector investment in the regions. The continued roll-out of the metropolitan area networks, MANs, programme will see networks serving 93 towns throughout the country by the end of this year.

The recent group and county broadband scheme brought competitive broadband services and 127 projects have been completed. The decision to replace this scheme with the national broadband scheme will address remaining areas that are uneconomical for the private sector and meet all reasonable requests for broadband by the end of 2009. The winning bidder for the scheme is currently being selected through a competitive tender process and will provide a future-proofed, bandwidth scalable service.

The Government has made €435 million available for communications in the National Development Programme 2007-2013 and broadband, which includes funding for the MANs and national broadband scheme. Internationally, communications are moving to next generation broadband to deliver greater quality, speed and service for the consumer and this is happening where there is strong competition and incentives for innovation. Cross-platform competition is important and improvements in fixed, cable, wireless and mobile broadband networks are continuing apace in Ireland.

Past experience teaches us that demand for bandwidth will continue to increase and supply must not constrain this. It is, therefore, important that we get future policy right. Innovative actions by the Government and effective regulation can help the private sector make the right investment decisions. The Government must ensure the appropriate regulatory framework is in place and will also invest directly, for example in the case of the national broadband scheme, when the market fails.

There are uncertainties around the most appropriate technology choices and developments internationally are following varying choices and standards. The wrong choice could be detrimental to future development in Ireland. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has prepared a draft policy paper on next generation broadband and today completed a meeting of the expert international advisory forum to examine the issues, options and recommendations for future policy. The draft paper examines developments in the Irish market and internationally, the challenges Ireland faces in the development of next generation broadband and possible approaches.

A number of issues face the Government, including how to make the optimum use of State infrastructure, such as ducting and spectrum, to facilitate private sector investment. The Department will incorporate the advice of the forum as appropriate and publish the revised paper shortly for consultation with all stakeholders. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I encourage and welcome the views of all interested parties on the paper.

We are now at a crossroads in terms of the future direction of the State's telecommunications policy. The Government is determined that Ireland will build on recent improvements so that it is properly positioned in this key area to compete in the global economy. Our policy will be based on sound evidence and clear principles that will guide Ireland's move towards next generation broadband. Contributions from Members on all sides of the House have made it clear that this issue exercises constituents in the business sector and the general public. I commend the Government motion to the House.

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