Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has progressed plans for achieving the 100% broadband enablement of Ireland; if he has had contact with broadband service providers in this regard; the amount he estimates the 100% enablement will cost and through which method he will achieve and finance same; if there will be a public tender process; if he will implement a universal service obligation for broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23089/07]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he proposes to improve broadband availability to rural areas, at an affordable price. [17994/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 19 together.

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services by competing private sector service providers.

The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These include providing grant-aid under the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme and investment in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs).

Broadband penetration has increased significantly in recent years. Penetration levels have increased to 698,000 subscribers which, by OECD measures, is the equivalent of 16.48% of the population. This compares to less than 1% in 2002.

As a result Ireland has improved its position internationally and Government action through provision of an optimal regulatory regime and targeted infrastructural investment will continue to support this performance.

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, the procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. 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, the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) phase, is now complete and four candidates have pre-qualified. As my Department indicated on 2 September, the four candidates are, in alphabetical order, BT Communications Ireland Ltd Consortium, eircom Ltd, Hutchinson 3G Ireland Ltd and IFA/Motorola Consortium.

The next phase of the procurement process involves inviting candidates to participate in a competitive dialogue process. My Department is 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.

The broadband product to be provided under the NBS will be broadly equivalent to the tariffs and products typically available on the Irish market. The most appropriate mechanism to achieve this aim will be decided during the competitive dialogue process.

Financial modelling has been undertaken to establish the estimated cost for the Scheme. I do not propose to make that figure public as knowledge of the estimated cost could influence the negotiation process.

Broadband connections are excluded from the Universal Service requirements. The implementation of such a requirement would be the responsibility of ComReg.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will direct ComReg to intervene directly on behalf of end users where service contracts or the universal service obligation have been broken and to ensure compliance by undertaking with the terms of those contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23062/07]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will bring forward measures to implement a statutory basis for notice of withdrawal to ensure that all operators provide at least thirty days prior notice for the withdrawal of electronic communications services or electronic communications product to an end user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23078/07]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will direct ComReg to ensure that the universal service obligation for telecoms services is fully upheld and that no residential public service telephone network provision requests is not granted within a maximum three month time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23079/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 24 and 68 together.

I have no function in regulating the provision of services in the telecommunications market.

Primary responsibility for consumer protection falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the National Consumer Agency. A function of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, is the investigation of complaints from consumers in relation to the supply of, and access to, electronic communications networks, electronic communications services and associated facilities.

ComReg also has an objective to promote the interests of users of these services within the European Community.

Under the EU Framework Regulations, ComReg shall, where appropriate, consult and cooperate with the Director of Consumer Affairs on matters of common interest in connection with the protection of consumer interests. I am informed by ComReg that discussions are ongoing between both parties at present with a view to the development of a memorandum of understanding on the matter.

ComReg, in consultation with the service providers, are examining the possibility of amending the conditions of the general authorisation of service providers in an effort to minimise disruption to consumers in the event of a service provider exiting the market.

The amendments being considered would include a minimum period of notice of service termination, which service providers must give, during which it would be their responsibility to work with ComReg to ensure that any disruption to customers is minimised.

ComReg have informed my Department that it plans to issue a direction concerning this matter to service providers by early next month.

Given ComReg's undertaking in this matter, I have no plans to bring forward measures to implement a statutory basis for notice of withdrawal of electronic communications services or any electronic communications product to an end user.

The regulation of Universal Service Obligations and quality of service is the responsibility of ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Universal Service and User's Rights Regulations 2003.

The principal obligation, in relation to access to a public telephone service, which Eircom has to fulfil as Universal Service Provider is:

To satisfy any reasonable request to provide at a fixed location connections to the public telephone network and access to publicly available telephone services.