Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when broadband connection will be provided in the Kilmacanogue area of County Wicklow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32239/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of telecommunications services, 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.

It has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband, so my Department's regional broadband programme is addressing the infrastructure deficit by building high speed open access broadband networks, in association with the local and regional authorities, in the major towns and cities. The metropolitan area networks, MANs, offer the private sector service providers access to world-class broadband services at competitive costs.

Nineteen MANs are now completed, and a further seven are nearing completion. The second phase of the programme involves the building of MANs in a further 93 towns with a population of 1,500 and over that do not have a satisfactory broadband offering from the service providers. Design and procurement has already commenced in four towns in County Wicklow, namely Kilcoole, Enniskerry, Newtownmountkennedy and Blessington.

For rural communities, smaller towns such as Kilmacanogue, and the hinterlands of larger towns, my Department offers funding under the county and group broadband scheme to enable these communities to become self-sufficient in broadband, in association with the service providers. Four schemes have been approved in County Wicklow to date — Rathdrum, north east Wicklow, Carnew and Laragh. Full details of the scheme, including application procedures, are on the website www.gbs.gov.ie.

My Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie lists all service providers offering broadband services in all towns in Wicklow, and gives contact details for each company, together with prices for the various service levels on offer.