Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps being taken to effect a roll out of broadband in County Westmeath; the steps being taken to provide broadband facilities for Tyrrellspass and the surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30048/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll out of the national broadband scheme; the exchanges in County Offaly that will be covered by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30066/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the roll out of the national broadband scheme; the exchanges in County Laois will be covered by the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30067/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 342, inclusive, together.

The provision of broadband services is primarily a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated 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).

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. Maps of areas unserved by broadband have been prepared to help inform the tendering process. The scheme is technology neutral which means that the bidding service providers may use whichever technology they feel best suits the scheme's objectives. That technology may or may not involve using existing exchanges.

The first phase of the procurement process, Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is now complete and four candidates have pre-qualified. 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 during 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.