Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion of the €435 million for broadband announced in his next-generation policy paper that will be spent on schools; when the roll-out of 100 Mbps connectivity will start; when all secondary schools here will have such connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I launched the consultation paper on next-generation broadband on Thursday, 3 July 2008. The consultation paper sets out a policy background and framework for the implementation of next-generation broadband. It also includes ten specific Government commitments of which one is the aim that on a phased basis, second level schools in Ireland will be equipped with100 Mbps of broadband connectivity.

It is crucial that our second level students are equipped with the resources necessary to allow them to develop the skills, knowledge and talents that are required by our knowledge society. Students must have the bandwidth that will allow them to learn and collaborate on-line simultaneously. The existing levels of bandwidth must be increased and accordingly it is my aim that, on a phased basis, second level schools in Ireland will be equipped with 100 Mbps of broadband connectivity. Local area networks will also be installed.

The cost of this measure will depend on the outcome of the procurement approach to be adopted. This and other issues relating to the roll-out of the commitment will be considered by my Department in conjunction with the Departments of Education and Science and Finance. I am satisfied that this commitment and other commitments in the paper can be accommodated within the €435 million national development plan envelope for investment in broadband. As I indicated, the programme will be rolled out on a phased basis but I am determined to see the project advanced in 2009.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Last week when the Minister launched his next-generation broadband consultation document, 12 months into office, he announced that the Government planned to invest, in capital terms, €435 million to address the digital divide. Is it the case that the Government has already spent approximately €135 million of that €435 million? I ask the Minister to clarify what is still available to spend. He said quite clearly that the Government will target capital investment of €435 million. What has been spent and what is left?

With regard to the information and communications technology in schools project, the Minister for Education and Science said that a report is to be published today on the issue. Has the Minister seen that report? Will he tell us the amount of money the Government is committing to bringing broadband and ICT capacity to schools? We all know the merits of it so he no longer needs to tell us about them. We want to see it happen and a timescale for when it will happen.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Of the overall NDP funding, €50 million will be spent by the end of this year. There is significant spending this year on metropolitan area networks and the group broadband schemes. In 2007, some money was spent on group broadband schemes This still leaves the bulk of the funding finance available.

We deliberately will not give a figure because it is a competitive tendering process. As with any other project, one cannot get best value for the State — there are times when we must get best value — by going out with an estimate as to what the contract bid might cost. I will outline the benefits and the reasoning behind this because it is important that we——

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With all due respect, I asked a question to which I would like an answer. I do not want a lecture on the benefits of ICT in schools. Can I have an answer to when we will see it happen because that is what people want to know?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I have given that answer.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is my question and I am entitled to an answer.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am also entitled to outline the benefits as I see them, which come into the equation in terms of why we are spending this money.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is the Minister's responsibility to answer the question.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My responsibility is to deliver broadband policy.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At Question Time, the Minister is supposed to answer questions so he should stop wasting time and give us a timescale.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I am perfectly happy that I can outline that. I will move to the next question then.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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What exactly is the Minister doing?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I have answered Deputy Coveney's question.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I need some protection. I have asked a question and am entitled to an answer.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Will the Deputy take his seat? Will the Minister allow me to call questions? I have called Question No. 1 and if the Minister has concluded his answer——

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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To answer Deputy Coveney's question, I cannot give precise costings because it will be part of a competitive tendering process.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Deputy Coveney may ask a supplementary.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The main issue about which the Minister spoke last week was the importance of bringing digital capacity to schools and he is right about that. All I am asking is when will this happen. He is talking about a competitive tendering process. When will it start and finish and when can second level and primary schools expect to get broadband connection?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Each school has broadband connection. The intention is to continue the current broadband connectivity and, on a phased basis, where schools currently have in the order of from half a megabit to two megabits they will be replaced with 100 megabits and local area connectivity networks so that within the school each classroom can be connected.

As I said in the report and today, that will be done on a phased basis starting in 2009. I do not want to be prescriptive on the timing because we must go into a detailed competitive tendering process that must be worked out.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will take a final brief supplementary from Deputy Coveney.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister did not tell us last week that that process would start in 2009. He gave the impression that it would start immediately. At least we now have some information that it will not start for another six months.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy's question should be brief.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister tell us with some definitive accuracy when secondary schools are likely to see the fulfilment of his promise, which is to put 100 megabits per second broadband connectivity into those schools? When is this likely to be completed under the phased process?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The word "phased" implies that I will not give a specific completion date because I must work with the industry to ensure a competitive tendering process to see which technologies will best apply. Following the completion of that, we will have the complete outcome of the actual phases.