Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he directly or through the regulator has examined the implications for the customer arising from recent or proposed takeovers or mergers in the telecommunications area, both landline and wireless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34680/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 110 of today.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the areas in respect of which the greatest progress has been made in the past 12 months in the provision of high speed telecommunication services including broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34681/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the availability of high speed broadband on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34954/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 307: 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 in the past 12 months; the likely growth in the future under each heading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34955/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 306 and 307 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 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 virtually 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 in the regions 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 one 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.

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.

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. The construction-installation phase is now under way and the project is on target for completion within the set timeframe.