Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his objectives as set out in the national development plan in respect of oil, gas or other mineral activity; the full extent of the inclusion of this programme in the previous NDP; the extent to which targets were met within time and cost restrictions during the life of the plan; the extent to which such targets are expected to be achieved in the current plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5727/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Oil, gas and other mineral exploration activities do not fall within the ambit of either this National Development Plan or the previous one. The costs of these activities are not funded by the Exchequer but instead are paid for by those companies that acquire exploration licences.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the full extent of his proposals under the national development plan in respect of broadcasting, mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband and the communications sector in general; his projections in respect of the achievement of the various targets; the targets set for these areas in the previous NDP; the extent to which targets were met within time and cost conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5728/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Under the NDP 2000-2006 the Government targeted the broadband infrastructure deficit in the regions by part funding private sector infrastructure, by constructing State-owned, open access MANs in cities and towns nationwide in association with the local and regional authorities.

Phase One of the MANs programme, which involved the construction of networks in 27 towns, is now complete at a cost of approximately €85 million. Phase 2 of the MANs programme involves the construction of MANs in over 90 additional towns nationwide. Construction commenced in 2006 in 23 towns in the following counties; Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Meath, Galway, Longford and Donegal. The remaining MANs under Phase II of the programme are currently on schedule to have commenced construction by the end of 2007. It is currently anticipated that all the MANs in Phase 2 will have been constructed in 2007-2008. The estimated cost for Phase 2, at present, is €130 million.

Grant aid amounting to €5.9 million was offered to the service providers approved under the Group Broadband Scheme. To date the service providers have claimed and been paid almost €1.4 million in grant aid. The MANs programme utilised competitive tendering and fixed price contracts to ensure that the projects were completed on time and within budget.

Over the 2007-2013 period phase 2 of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) programme will be completed. Consideration will be given to a further phase of MANs once the effectiveness of spending under phase 1 has been addressed. Project selection under this Programme will be directly targeted to assist the implementation of the National Spatial Strategy.

A scheme to deliver broadband to areas of the country that would not be reached by the MANs programme or by the Group Broadband Scheme (GBS) is also being developed for implementation over the period of the new Plan. The objective of the scheme will be to deliver a broadband service to the limited number of areas where it is currently uneconomic for the private sector to do so.

Apart from the completion of the DTT Pilot, there are no proposals for Broadcasting in the NDP. The provision of telecommunications services and the development and roll-out of telecommunications technology is primarily a matter for the industry itself. The telecommunications market is fully liberalised and regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his vision in the context of the national development plan or otherwise, for the provision of the full range of postal, counter and delivery services in the future; if this entails the electronic upgrading of the maximum number of post offices, the retention of an effective and viable network and the provision of a rapid, efficient and reliable daily delivery postal service; if a public service obligation in respect of such services is intended; if it is expected that such services will be provided in all parts of the country in a competitive and cost effective fashion capable of meeting the needs of the consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5729/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of the full range of postal, counter and delivery services in the future is a matter, in the first instance, for An Post and the other postal operators in the market. The universal service obligation, enshrined in European and Irish law, provides that each Member State is obliged to provide a postal service whereby the minimum level of service that must be provided is a clearance and delivery every working day to the home or premises of every person. Under Irish regulations, An Post is designated as the Universal Service provider. To assist the company in meeting its statutory obligations, it has a legal monopoly on all mail items weighing 50g or less until January 2009. Furthermore, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the independent regulatory body which, in accordance with the provisions of S.I. 616 of 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, has responsibility for the monitoring, measurement and regulation of the postal sector including measuring the levels of service to be achieved by An Post and ensuring that the company abides by its statutory universal service obligations.

I believe that there will continue to be a key national role for An Post in the delivery of mails and parcels. However, over the coming years, competition can be expected to increase in these sectors, whether from the privately owned express sector, from the large European public operators now looking for international business or from electronic substitution.

Liberalisation of the mail market in Ireland has already commenced and the second Postal Directive proposes that the postal sector is to fully liberalise across the EU on 1 January 2009 subject to political agreement, which, if achieved, would open up the letter post area to full competition. Issues that will be important for Ireland in the context of a fully liberalised market will include the protection of the universal service, ensuring that Irish citizens continue to receive a broad suite of postal services and the continued viability of An Post in the face of open competition.

The development of the postal market requires the availability of competitive, high quality products. The current level of market opening has introduced new players with offerings that meet consumer needs and further market opening will provide further opportunities for new and existing players. The development of further competition allied with a modernised and customer-focussed An Post will provide the basis for the further development of the postal sector here.

As regards the post office network, this Government and the board of An Post, are committed to the objective of securing and maintaining the largest, most economically sustainable nationwide post office network possible.