Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has completed an audit of all State owned broadband infrastructure; if he will publish the findings of such results; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24370/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The consultation paper on next generation broadband, which I launched in July 2008, proposed the establishment of a one-stop shop to provide service providers with flexible and open access to existing and future State-owned infrastructure for telecommunications services. Trade over digital networks is becoming increasingly important and access to high-speed broadband networks will be necessary if indigenous and foreign-owned enterprises in the regions are to prosper in the smart economy. Leveraging publicly owned ducting has the capacity to reduce costs significantly for private sector investors in rolling out fibre-optic cabling to the regions and thereby improve competition in the electronic communications market.

The idea of a one-stop shop received a largely positive response in the consultation process on the NGB draft paper and contributors recognised the potential of utilising State assets to provide fibre networks in the regions. Officials from my Department have worked with the relevant State agencies in the energy and transport sectors to compile a database of the supply of publicly owned infrastructure which can currently or potentially support high-speed broadband networks. Following this process, maps were compiled which provide an indicative depiction of the supply and gaps in relevant State infrastructure. The maps also include the metropolitan area networks, an important component of broadband connectivity in the regions. These maps will be included in the final version of the next generation broadband policy paper, which will be launched shortly.

These maps indicate that there is an extensive network of State infrastructure which has the potential to improve our broadband infrastructure significantly. However, the readiness of the State infrastructure to be utilised as telecommunications infrastructure varies greatly between the different agencies. For example, some agencies are already making their infrastructure available while others have not done so or have no local infrastructure in place. Another factor is that some publicly-owned infrastructure may be subject to existing contractual arrangements and may not be currently available on an open access basis. Nevertheless, I am determined to move on the process speedily so that optimal utilisation of these assets can be achieved. The next step in developing the one-stop shop is to decide on the best operational model. I expect to make a decision on this in the summer.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for that information. It is a bugbear of mine that it has taken so long to put in place an audit to establish the amount of broadband infrastructure owned by the State and its agencies or companies. That information is required in order that we can begin to concentrate on bridging the gaps in existing services to ensure we have a modern broadband infrastructure.

I welcome the Minister's assurance that the job has now been done. He indicated that the results will be included in the policy paper on next generation broadband which will be published "shortly". Will he provide a specific date? It is difficult not to be cynical about the timetable that has been set out for broadband roll-out when one considers how long it has taken the Department even to put in place a management contract for the second phase of the metropolitan area networks, MANs, project. I ask for a definitive indication of the date of publication of the policy paper on next generation broadband so that we can move on to have a proper debate on these issues.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The report will be published within days. As I said, the work has been done and the crucial issue now is how to use the information. We are all agreed on the concept of providing access to State infrastructure. One option is to go for a public private partnership model whereby an external body would be brought in to manage the variety of different assets available in a single one-stop shop. Alternatively, we could deploy an existing provider, possibly a State company, to take over the other assets and operate them on a one-stop basis. Whichever option we choose, what is important is that we provide that access in a way that helps all operators. The objective is a platform and operator neutral provision of much higher bandwidth speeds throughout the country using State infrastructure to support commercial investment.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am excited by the Minister's response. What he has outlined is precisely what we should be doing. In a recent policy document, my party set out its view on how we should proceed in regard to State-owned broadband infrastructure. We have proposed the establishment of a new State company and the amalgamation of some existing bodies to manage that infrastructure. I look forward to the Minister developing his ideas and hopefully taking on board some of the proposals my party has made.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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While we have had difficulties arising from lack of investment in some of our networks, we enjoy certain advantages in some of the mobile technologies that have developed here. We also have an advantage in terms of the fibre optic under State ownership which we can use to help companies provide the bandwidths we require.