Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of potential customers throughout the country who have so far been unable to obtain broadband services; if he will issue instructions to the regulator or the service providers to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28045/05]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which the broadband market needs have been met by the various service providers to date; the future potential in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28065/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband delivery has been achieved to date through DSL, fibre, fixed wireless, leased lines, cable or satellite; the extent of such growth under each heading in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28057/05]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of customers who have so far received broadband services either by wireless or other technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28048/05]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the areas or regions throughout Ireland which do not have availability of broadband for the business sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28058/05]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when 100% broadband availability will be achieved throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28061/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which the broadband market needs have been met by the various service providers to date; the future potential in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28114/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when 100% broadband availability will be achieved throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28118/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the areas or regions throughout Ireland which do not have availability of broadband for the business sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28121/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which broadband delivery has been achieved to date through DSL, fibre, fixed wireless, leased lines, cable or satellite; the extent of such growth under each heading in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28122/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of customers who have so far received broadband services by wireless or other technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28131/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of potential customers throughout the country who have so far been unable to obtain broadband services; if he will issue instructions to the regulator or the service providers to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28134/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 94, 95, 124, 149, 167, 242, 246, 249, 250, 258 and 261 together.

The provision of telecommunications, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

In March 2004, my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, under section 13 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, issued policy directions to the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, including one on broadband. This direction required ComReg to use regulatory and enforcement tools, where necessary and subject to relevant requirements under European and national law, to support initiatives to develop broadband and remove regulatory barriers, if any exist, to such initiatives. ComReg was required to have a particular focus on the residential and SME sectors, balanced regional development, and the potential for broadband provision on alternative platforms. The goal set for ComReg was to be at, or better than, the EU 15 average, excluding accession countries, for end-user access to, and usage of, broadband by mid-2005. Going forward, the acceleration of local loop unbundling should stimulate improved broadband offerings.

In 2004, there were over 80 Internet service providers, today there are over 156 companies listed by ComReg, with at least 45 different broadband offerings across a variety of technologies, including DSL, fibre, cable, leased lines and satellite technology. Wireless broadband technology is improving rapidly, and the lowering of equipment prices has made this technology much more attractive of late. The use of fixed wireless local access is increasing, especially in rural areas that cannot obtain ADSL connectivity, and the development of Wi-Max offers considerable potential in the future. In essence, there are broadband technologies that can deliver broadband to any broadband customer in Ireland right now. The rate of uptake is dependent on access by the service providers to suitable infrastructure.

The latest quarterly data report from ComReg on broadband delivery rates indicates that broadband subscriptions have grown by 15% in the last quarter and stand at 175,000. DSL remains the largest platform for broadband access, representing 80% of subscriptions and a growth rate of 44% in the last quarter. Fixed wireless broadband services have exhibited the fastest growth in subscriptions in the broadband market. Cable subscriptions have grown by 25% in the quarter and represent around 8% of total broadband subscriptions.

The Government is addressing the infrastructure deficit by building high-speed open access metropolitan area networks, MANs, in 120 towns and cities nationwide on a phased basis in association with the local and regional authorities. Phase 1 of this programme has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country, which were built on time and under budget. This programme has been extended to a further 90 towns in various locations nationwide. Design and procurement has already commenced in several regions and construction is due to start early in 2006. It is expected that these MANs will be completed during 2006 and 2007. These metropolitan area networks will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs.

In June 2004, the contract for management of the Government and local authority regional metropolitan broadband networks was awarded to E-Net, a company based in Limerick. The term of the contract is 15 years. E-Net operates as a wholesaler of access to the MANs and offers a full suite of products including ducting, sub-ducting, dark fibre, high level managed capacity, co-location facilities and relevant auxiliary services.

My Department also offers funding assistance for smaller towns and rural communities to become self-sufficient in broadband through the county and group broadband scheme. The scheme is technology-neutral, allowing the community to select the most suitable broadband delivery platform for the area, with each application being assessed by the Department's technical advisers. To date, over 150 projects have been approved for funding under this programme.

A joint industry-Government fund of €18 million has been established for the broadband for schools programme, which will provide every school in the country with broadband by the beginning of 2006. This is a crucial strand in the strategy of integrating ICT into teaching and learning and in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources's wider vision of promoting the use of broadband technologies in local communities around the country. Funding arrangements are also in place for the updating of computer networks and equipment within schools. The construction-installation phase is now under way, and the project is on target for completion within the set timeframe.

Full details of the regional broadband programme can be found on my Department's website, www.dcmnr.gov.ie.