Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll-out of broadband for north Dublin; the number of subscribers in the area; the target number to be achieved; the companies operating in the area; the progress his Department has made in the tender process for the national broadband scheme in north Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28064/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg are responsible for the compiling of statistics on broadband uptake. I understand that these statistics are collected on a national basis only. Further information on broadband service providers in north Dublin is available on my Department's broadband website, www.broadband.gov.ie.

The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard, 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, 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.

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 roll-out 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.