Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if there is a target date by which broadband services will be fully provided for in Kildare; if not, if his Department intends to set such a date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12565/06]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which it is intended to provide full broadband cover for Kildare; if a project plan is in place for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12566/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.

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 Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, the independent regulator.

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. These metropolitan area networks, MANs, will allow the private sector to offer world class broadband services at competitive costs.

A total of 27 MANs have been completed under phase one and are currently being managed by e-net, the Management Services Entity. The second phase of the programme involves the building of MANs in over 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and above that do not have a satisfactory broadband offering from the sector. Kildare is developing projects in respect of the following towns: Kildare, Newbridge, Rathangan, Sallins, Maynooth, Clane, Monasterevin, Kilcock and Prosperous. The network routes are currently being finalised prior to issuing the invitation to tender for detailed design. Construction on these projects is expected to commence in 2006.

For rural communities 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. To date, 12 schemes have been approved across County Kildare representing total capital investment of €396,750, making broadband available to 68 communities and 17,790 people. 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 Kildare, and gives contact details for each company, together with prices for the various service levels on offer.