Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the degree to which the local exchange in County Kilkenny has been broadband enabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4406/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I have no statutory function in relation to this matter. In the first instance it is an operational issue for the service provider concerned. Responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication service providers rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 340 of 12 December 2006 and the reply thereto, if he will provide a comprehensive reply to the part regarding his numerous statements in the recent past that he is urgently progressing measures to ensure the availability of broadband to the remaining 10% to 15% of people who can not receive broadband; the position in this regard; his proposals to progress matters in early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4407/07]

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).

My priority remains that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. I am aware, despite Government and private investment in broadband, that there are areas of the country where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity. Accordingly, I recently announced a new scheme which will aim to provide a broadband service to these areas. This Scheme, which will supersede the Group Broadband Scheme, will, when it is fully rolled out, ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband from houses and premises in rural areas are met. A Steering Group comprising officials from my Department and ComReg is currently considering all elements of the proposed scheme and work on the design of an appropriate tender will commence in the coming weeks. This scheme will be confined to areas of the country that are not yet served by any broadband service provider, currently thought to be 10-15% of the population.