Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received and reviewed the National Council for the Blind of Ireland's general election manifesto for 2007; if he will bring forward measures to implement the NCBI's recommendations to improve access to communications and information technology for persons who are blind or vision impaired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23082/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I have received the National Council for the Blind's General Election manifesto for 2007.

My Department's Disability Sectoral Plan 2006–2009, under the Disability Act 2005, sets targets for improving the range of accessible services in the all sectors under its aegis including communications. The Plan will be reviewed every three years and amended, and updated as necessary.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in conjunction with the National Disability Forum, recently launched a Consumer Guide, "Phones and Broadband — A Guide for People with Disabilities and Older People". This guide is an initial output of a Forum on Services for People with Disabilities, which ComReg established last year as part of their commitment to my Department's Sectoral Plan. Under the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users' Rights) Regulations 2003, the Universal Service Provider is required to implement specific measures for disabled end-users. Responsibility for the enforcement of these regulations lies with ComReg.