Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position within the top half of EU countries the Government's broadband target is aimed at by the end of 2007; if more ambitious targets are being aimed at for beyond that date; when the Government expects to be in the top ten of EU countries for broadband provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8660/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 116 and 151 on 16 November 2005, where I indicated that the Government's broadband target for Ireland is to be within the top half of EU countries in terms of broadband penetration by the end of 2007, and not a specific position. In a liberalised telecommunications market, the rate of broadband take-up will be largely determined by the private sector service providers supplying and marketing broadband products to meet the requirements of end-users.

Take-up targets after 2007 have not been set because they would not address the immediate needs of broadband in Ireland. With regard to the provision of broadband, that is, the availability or coverage of broadband services, internationally comparable benchmarks are not widely used and it is, therefore, difficult to establish international rankings.