Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the full extent of the availability of broadband throughout the country at the present time; if the achievements to date are in line with his projections when he became Minister; his intentions to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5437/07]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the degree to which broadband availability and take up has been achieved throughout industry, the health, education and other services and the domestic market; if he has received indications in the matter of progress in this regard in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5439/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 110 together.

The latest Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) quarterly report states there are 436,700 broadband subscribers as of the end of Quarter 3 2006, which represents a year-on-year increase of 106%. This report estimates that at the end of Quarter 3 of 2006 71% of these broadband subscribers were residential with 29% being classified as business subscribers. When, in late 2004, I set my target of 400,000 broadband subscribers by end-2006, the number of them stood at 63,600. These latest ComReg figures show that the 400,000 target was exceeded in August/September 2006. Furthermore, estimates provided to me by ComReg confirm that my challenge to industry to have 500,000 broadband subscribers by mid-2007 has been reached.

Considerable advances have been made since 2004 in the availability of Broadband. There has been a large increase in the number of companies providing broadband over a variety of technologies, including DSL, fibre, cable, leased lines, mobile broadband and satellite technology. Wireless and mobile broadband technology are continuing to improve rapidly, and the lowering of equipment prices has made this technology much more attractive of late. The use of fixed wireless local access is increasing, especially in rural areas that cannot obtain DSL connectivity and the development of Wi-Max, offers considerable potential in the future.

The Broadband for Schools program, jointly funded by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of Education and Science, and the Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF), saw an €18 million fund established to resource the provision of high-speed broadband connectivity to every primary and post primary school in the country. 96.8% of schools now have broadband access. The overwhelming majority of schools will now be able to utilise broadband as part of the education process.

The Government is addressing the infrastructure deficit in the regions by building high-speed, open access, carrier neutral 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 so far delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country. This Programme has been extended to more than 90 additional towns nationwide and these MANs are due for completion during 2007 and 2008. These Metropolitan Area Networks will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs. Complementary to the MAN networks, the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme (GBS) has funded over 120 projects specifically aimed at smaller communities.

However, despite Government and private investment in broadband there are parts of the country where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity. It is planned to address the question of availability of broadband to the remaining 10-15 per cent via a new scheme which, when it is fully rolled out, will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband from houses and premises in rural areas are met. A Steering Group comprising representatives of my Department and ComReg are currently finalising the outline of the scheme.