Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if further progress has been made on a third call for broadband in rural areas; if his stated aim to ensure that effective and efficient measures be put in place to deliver such a service materialised; if it has been brought to his attention that there is an urgent demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4983/07]

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. To this end, I recently announced a new scheme which will aim to provide a broadband service to these areas. This National Broadband Scheme (NBS) will replace the Group Broadband Scheme (GBS) and 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. Accordingly, there will not be any new call for proposals under the Group Broadband Scheme.