Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures being taken to ensure that broadband is available to all who seek it and that the bandwidth here compares favourably with Ireland's European counterparts, both in availability and price; if it is the intention of the Government to invest more in the infrastructure both in relation to bandwidth and availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34639/06]

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.

However, it has been clear for some time that the private sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband. Consequently my Department's regional broadband programme aims to address 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.

Twenty-seven MANs have been completed under Phase One. In planning Phase Two of the MANs programme, a review of the availability of DSL broadband in the regions showed over 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and above that were not being offered a broadband option by the private sector, and these towns have been targeted for the provision of MANs in Phase Two.

My Department also offered funding assistance for smaller towns and rural communities with a population of less than 1,500 people through the 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 160 projects have been approved for funding under this Programme.

Despite Government investment in broadband deployment in the regions through the regional broadband programme initiatives (MANs and Group Broadband Scheme), there are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity. Options to address the gaps in broadband coverage are currently being considered.

Competition has a positive impact on the choice, quality and price of broadband, and one of my key priorities is to facilitate competition amongst service providers through the provision of broadband infrastructure. Broadband prices have fallen since 2003 and Ireland now ranks amongst the most price competitive in Europe with the third cheapest entry level ADSL for broadband in the EU-15 according to ComReg figures as at end June 2006.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures he is taking to regulate the many aspects of Internet industries, such as web hosting, in view of the increasing use of and dependence by private persons and businesses on the Internet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34640/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I have no function in this matter. Issues such as web hosting are a matter of private contract between the relevant parties.