Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the discussions he has had with potential service providers in regard to the possibility of providing modern telecommunication services at the Black Valley, County Kerry and other similar locations here which are currently dependent on outdated battery supported communications systems; the extent to which improvements can be brought about through groups or MAN schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7061/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of broadband services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by ComReg. It has been clear for some time that the telecommunications sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband. For this reason, 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. These metropolitan area networks will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs.

Phase one of this programme has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country. These were built on time and under budget and the programme has been extended to more than 90 towns in various locations nationwide, with a population of 1,500 and above, which do not have a satisfactory broadband offering from the sector. County Kerry is developing projects in respect of the following towns: Castleisland, Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney, Listowel and Tralee. The route designs are being finalised prior to the appointment of the design and project managers. Construction on the projects is expected to commence in 2006.

My Department is administering the second call for the county and group broadband scheme, GBS. This scheme is designed to promote investment in broadband access infrastructure in rural communities with populations of 1,500 or less by contributing grant aid of up to 55% of the infrastructure costs. The following GBS community projects in County Kerry have been approved to date: Ballyferriter, Boherbue, Brandon, Caherciveen, Kinard, Ventry, north Kerry, Sliabh Luachra and Tarbert. My Department's website, www.broadband.gov.ie, lists all service providers offering broadband services in all towns in County Kerry and gives contact details for each company, together with prices for the various service levels on offer.