Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 351: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on increasing the penalties for persons dialling 999 and providing false or misleading information to the emergency services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11104/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I am proposing to increase the maximum penalty for a nuisance call to the emergency services to €5000 on summary conviction in the Communications Regulations (Amendment) Bill 2007. This is being done as a result of the high level of nuisance calls that are received by the emergency call answering service each year.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the areas in County Clare that will be covered by the new scheme to bring broadband coverage to areas where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of such a service; when he envisages the service will be rolled out for such areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11193/07]

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.

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. In that regard my Department has undertaken initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These include investment in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in over 120 towns and cities. These MANs will allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs. My Department has also provided grant-aid under the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme.

However, despite Government and private investment in broadband I am aware that there are still some parts of the country where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity. A Steering Committee comprising officials from my Department and ComReg is currently finalising the proposed National Broadband Scheme, which will aim to provide broadband to these unserved areas. The Steering Committee has met with Service Providers and key stakeholders about this scheme which, when it is fully rolled out, will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband from houses and premises in unserved areas are met. Work on the design of an appropriate public tender is underway. Indicative maps are being prepared to help inform the tendering process. It is not possible, at this point in time, to specify what exact areas of the country will receive broadband under this scheme. However areas without any broadband service should be provided with a service under the scheme, provided the cost of provision is not unreasonable.