Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1208: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of June 2007 the position in relation to the awarding of the national broadband scheme, its subsequent roll out and if it is still within the timescale of December 2007. [20828/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The procurement process for a new National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The procurement process is being undertaken pursuant to the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities' Contracts) Regulations 2006 using a competitive dialogue procurement process. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in unserved areas are met.

The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four Candidates have pre-qualified. As my Department indicated on 2 September 2007, the four candidates are, in alphabetical order, BT Communications Ireland Ltd Consortium, Eircom Ltd, Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd and IFA/Motorola Consortium. My Department received a significant number of responses to the PQQ issued, and due to the number of responses received there was a consequential increase in analysis required.

The next phase of the procurement process involves inviting candidates to participate in a competitive dialogue process. The documentation required for this phase of the process is complex and requires significant consideration. As a result of these issues, there has been an increase in the expected timeline for the NBS. The Department is now anticipating that the award of the NBS contract will be Quarter 2 of 2008, with rollout of the services due to begin as soon as possible thereafter. This timeline is subject to negotiations with candidates during the competitive dialogue phase of the procurement process.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1209: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the telephone exchanges throughout south west cork that are due for upgrade to broadband standard before 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20829/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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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 Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, the independent regulator. I have no function in the matter of the enabling of exchanges owned by private companies.

As a private company, Eircom is not obliged to inform my Department about its plans concerning future upgrades to its broadband service. However, I welcome the recent announcement by Eircom that it is committing an extra €30 million to enabling 319 exchanges over the next coming years, in order to allow up to 140,000 new customers to connect to a broadband enabled exchange.