Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to roll out a national fibre-optic network to every home and business here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10294/06]

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. There are no plans to roll out a fibre-optic network to every home and business here. It would not make economic sense nor would it be feasible. In 2004 there were more than 80 Internet service providers, today there are more than 150 companies with at least 45 different broadband offerings. 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.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans, in view of the fact that residents in Kilmacanogue, County Wicklow, cannot access broadband, to ensure that this service will be provided immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10346/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 124 on 3 November 2005.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the normal set-up cost for a rural area broadband service; the approximate number of subscribers to a broadband service his Department would expect to be required to make such a service break even; his views on making available a grant for those areas where the set-up cost to a service provider exceeds a certain level [i]per capita[/i] in the area covered; the level of same; if he will ensure that such grants could be targeted specifically at rural areas rather than in towns and villages where the critical mass of consumers may naturally be met by demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10373/06]

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 is a commercial operational matter for the Internet service providers to determine such issues as the cost of establishing broadband services, revenue streams, minimum break-even subscriber numbers, technology and locations. Information about broadband services and prices, provided by the industry to my Department on a voluntary basis, is posted on the website at www.broadband.gov.ie. My Department also administers the group broadband scheme which is aimed at grant-aiding broadband service providers when establishing services in rural areas with populations below 1,500. Details of the scheme are available on my Department's website at www.dcmnr.gov.ie.