Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the definite measures that he will implement between now and the end of 2008 to promote and support the roll-out of improved broadband infrastructure across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The policy framework for future broadband development is set out in the consultation paper on next generation broadband which I published last July. A central objective is that Ireland will have universal access to broadband by end 2009 to early 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in other EU regions. That paper also sets out a number of specific actions to be rolled out over the coming period. These include the national broadband scheme, access to State broadband assets, high level broadband connectivity to second level schools and new businesses. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Delivery of broadband investment is primarily a matter for the private sector. Such investment has seen significant improvement in recent years in terms of coverage, speeds, price, competition and platform availability.

Government intervention will be targeted at those areas where the market is not able to deliver and where the State has the opportunity to use its infrastructure and services to improve broadband provision. In the short term the focus is on the national broadband scheme. The NBS is designed to deliver broadband to areas where the market has failed to provide services. It will bridge the digital divide, create greater equality in terms of social and economic inclusion and remove the disadvantage caused by a lack of broadband services. It will also facilitate competition in the broadband market in the regions leading to greater choice, quality and value for money to the consumer.

Two bids, from Eircom Limited and Hutchison 3G Ireland, have been received in response to the NBS invitation to tender. These bids are currently being evaluated and the evaluation process is scheduled for completion shortly. The contract is expected to be signed in November 2008.

Subject to agreement with the chosen service provider, roll-out of services is expected to begin shortly after the contract is signed. The chosen service provider will be required to complete the roll-out of services within 22 months of the contract award. All requests for a broadband service in the areas to be addressed by the NBS will be met.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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If contracts are being signed in November and if there is a 22-month roll-out period, can we safely assume that the Government target for universal broadband provision across the country will now be the end of 2010 rather than the end of 2009? My question refers to a lot more than the national broadband scheme although there is significant frustration with that matter.

The Minister's consultation paper published during the summer made a number of commitments which were not related to the national broadband scheme and I ask for an update on a number of those commitments. The Minister said that all new premises will be required to have installed an open access fibre connection, that is, ducting must be provided in each new building to carry broadband fibre. The Minister said this would be in place by the end of this year and I ask where this stands now.

The Minister said that the Government will facilitate access to service providers for all publicly-owned ducting that can carry fibre and that this will be provided at competitive commercial rates. Where does this stand now? He promised a one-stop shop where service providers would be provided with information on broadband and broadband infrastructure which they could use on an open access basis. Where does this stand?

With regard to the management contracts for MANs phase 2, my understanding is that E-Net has been given preferential bidder status or tender status but the contracts have not been signed yet. Why is this the case? We have 66 MANs, metropolitan area networks, surrounding towns all over the country but which are not being used and are not lit up. They have cost the State approximately €50 million to put in place. It will cost a fraction of that amount to run them but we have not put the management contract in place to make that happen. Why is this the case?

The Minister has said repeatedly that he will use the purchasing power of the State to stimulate demand in terms of next generation broadband provision. What is he actually doing in this regard? I am not interested in more consultation at this stage, I am interested in action. Some 18 months of waiting is enough.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I will happily answer each question although a number of them are addressed in further parliamentary questions, which I hope we will reach.

The national broadband scheme has taken slightly longer than we would have liked. My hope is that the detailed work that has gone into the preparation of the contract in advance, whoever the bidder is, will mean we will have swift roll-out and delivery on the commitment within it by mid-2010, which is the rough timeline set out.

With regard to ducting into each building, we have established a working group with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to consider the implementation of regulations. This is in the more immediate delivery timetables and will happen some time in the next number of months.

On the issue of the one-stop shop and its management of access to public infrastructure ducting, this is a more complex project and one that required us to go to consultation. In that consultation process, I wanted to hear from industry and the various people involved as to how it would be best managed. There are a variety of options, including the management of some of our assets, such as metropolitan area networks. It is right and proper for us to get this very significant and important project right, which is what my Department is doing in consultation with State agencies such as the National Roads Authority and other bodies that have a direct interest. This has gone from the consultation phase into the implementation phase. My Department is working with those agencies to set out how we can best do that.

In terms of the management of the existing metropolitan area networks facilities, none of those has been hindered from active use because of the lack of a second phase management contract being signed. All of those facilities are available for use on the basis that an interim management system is in place which is capable of providing fibre availability. The issue of the development and use of metropolitan area networks must be taken into account in the overall context.