Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The establishment of a one-stop-shop is one of the commitments in the next generation broadband policy paper, Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland, which I published in June last year. The concept of a one-stop-shop arose from a recognition that there is added value to be had from facilitating telecoms operators in gaining access to ducting in State-owned networks thereby ensuring optimal use of State assets and facilitating more cost-effective roll out of broadband. The context of the proposal is the anticipated increase in demand for high speed broadband into the future.

My Department has had consultations with the telecoms operators and has also engaged with the relevant State bodies which are generally supportive of the proposal. My Department has also undertaken an initial survey of State-owned networks and has published a series of maps showing the routes of infrastructure such as roads, electricity, gas and rail.

A further development in progressing the concept has been the publication of the Premium Rate Services Bill, which contains an amendment to the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002 whereby the National Roads Authority will provide a formal framework to make ducts on national roads and motorways accessible to telecommunications companies. This Bill, which has cleared all Stages in the Dáil and Seanad, will be back before this House tomorrow and I anticipate it will be quickly enacted. The immediate objective is to have information on the availability of and access arrangements for all State-owned ducting via a single contact point later this year.

At the same time we will evaluate and progress the best management system that will in the future provide co-ordinated access to such State-owned ducting. Such a management system should facilitate our wider objective of promoting co-operation between different telecoms providers of backhaul and wholesale services while at the same time not undermining competition in the market.

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