Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to roll-out the metropolitan area network to a town (details supplied) in County Cork. [14124/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the fully liberalised private sector, regulated by ComReg, the independent Commission for Communications Regulation.

The Government is addressing the infrastructure deficit 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 over 90 towns in various locations nationwide including 15 towns in County Cork. Cork is developing projects in respect of the following towns: Bantry, Blarney, Carrigaline, Charleville, Cobh, Dunmanway, Fermoy, Kanturk, Kinsale, Midleton, Mitchelstown, Passage West, Ringaskiddy, Skibbereen and Youghal.

Design and procurement has already commenced in the Cork region and construction is due to start later this year. It is expected that these MANs will be completed during 2006 and 2007. Clonakilty is not part of the current roll-out but may be included in further phases subject to the necessary approvals and Exchequer funding being made available.

The Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie lists a number of broadband service providers already offering services in Clonakilty, County Cork, using a variety of broadband technologies such as DSL, wireless, fibre, cable and satellite. The website gives prices for the various services on offer, and contact details for each of the companies.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the percentage of the country that has ready access to broadband technology for both business and domestic use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14148/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures which are being put in place to accelerate the roll-out of broadband technology here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14149/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 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 independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

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. Phase one of this programme has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country.

This programme has been extended to over 90 towns in various locations nationwide. It is expected that these MANs will be completed during 2006 and 2007. These networks will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs.

The Department also offers funding assistance for smaller towns and rural communities 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. To date, over 150 projects have been approved for funding under this programme.

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. This is a crucial strand in the strategy of integrating ICT into teaching and learning and the Department's wider vision of promoting the use of broadband technologies in local communities around the country. The construction and installation phase is now under way and the project is on target for completion within the set timeframe.

Broadband subscriber numbers have increased hugely in the last year. Almost 140,000 new broadband subscribers were added in 2005, a growth rate of 103% in 2005. This compares to 100,000 new broadband subscribers in 2004. The latest ComReg quarterly report states there are 270,700 broadband subscribers as of end-2005. This is equivalent to 6.6% of the population. There are also an estimated 0.6 million narrow band users.

Home Internet penetration figures currently stand at 18.7% of households. DSL dominates the Irish broadband market with a 75% market share. However, FWA and cable are growing strongly, albeit from a small base.

The official Government target is to have 400,000 subscribers by end-2006, that is, almost 10% of the population or 27% of households. The Minister's challenge to industry is 500,000 broadband subscribers by end-2006, which is about 12% of the population or 34% of households.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the expected timeframe for the availability of broadband in County Wexford (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14177/06]

John Browne (Wexford, 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 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 the Department's regional broadband programme is addressing the infrastructure deficit by building high speed fibre based broadband networks, in association with the local and regional authorities, in the major towns and cities. These metropolitan area networks, MANs, are open access fibre based trunk networks that will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs. Some 20 MANs are now completed, including the Wexford town MAN.

The Department also administers a group broadband scheme which is designed to promote the rollout of broadband access through the establishment of sustainable broadband services in towns, villages, rural hinterlands and under-served areas of larger towns on the basis of local and regional authority co-ordination and community driven initiatives. Under this scheme, broadband projects have been approved for Craanford, Monaseed, Kilanerin, Ballyfad, Ballythomas, Coolgreany, Bridgetown, Kilmore, Kilmore Quay, Ballyhogu, Galbally, Bree, Ramsgrange, Campile, Wellington Bridge, Fethard-on-Sea, Duncannon, Ballyhack, Clongeen, Arthurstown, Ballycullane, Saltmills, New Ross rural, Gorey rural, Courtown, Riverchapel, Ballygarrett, Ballycanew, Ballymoney, Killenagh, Camolin and Ballyoughter, County Wexford.

The Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie gives full details of broadband availability in all areas, including ADSL, cable, fibre, satellite and fixed wireless. The website also lists prices of the various service levels on offer and contact details for each service provider.