Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the telephone exchanges serving most parts of the Dublin north west area have been enabled for the provision of DSL broadband and a number of service providers are marketing DSL in the area, subject to line survey.

While the principal broadband technology in use in Ireland is digital subscriber line, DSL, which is also the situation in most European countries, there are technical limitations to the delivery of broadband along telephone lines. DSL is always marketed subject to availability and line quality, and if a particular telephone line cannot carry DSL, other technologies must be considered, such as wireless, cable modem or fibre-based broadband.

My Department's website, www.broadband.gov.ie, gives full details of the service providers offering broadband in the Dublin north west area, including DSL, wireless and satellite service providers. The website also gives comparative details of prices and service levels on offer.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market. Recent press announcements by some of the major service providers indicate a considerable increase in availability of broadband generally. I expect these trends to continue.