Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the broadband action plan funding will be put in place to ensure that areas (details supplied) in County Mayo will be broadband enabled. [33043/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of broadband services is mainly a matter for private sector providers operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I am informed that Ballinrobe and Claremorris are served by a number of broadband providers. In addition, under the second phase of the MANs Programme, a 7.2 km MAN in Ballinrobe town and a 9 km MAN in Claremorris town, are currently under construction.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the areas that have been broadband enabled under the broadband action plan; the areas that have yet to be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33044/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of broadband services is mainly a matter for private sector providers operating 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 to broadband projects in rural areas under the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme and investment in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in towns and cities under the Regional Broadband Programme. My Department operates a dedicated website, www.broadband.gov.ie. Some of the services listed on that website are offered by service providers under the Group Broadband Scheme and using the 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.

The first phase of the procurement process Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates have pre-qualified to enter the next phase of the procurement process. 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 Department has invited these remaining candidates to participate in the "Competitive Dialogue" procurement process and the candidates are due to present their proposed solutions to meet the Department's requirements for the delivery of broadband to the unserved areas of the country. It is anticipated that a preferred bidder will be selected and appointed in June 2008.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the funding allocated to the broadband action plan in each of the past three years and to date in 2007; the reason these projects are not going ahead; if there has been a cutback in the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33045/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of broadband services is mainly a matter for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. 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) in towns and cities under the Regional Broadband Programme.

Under the Group Broadband Scheme (GBS), which was launched in 2004, 127 broadband projects are operational and the grantees received €3.1 million in grant aid.

Under the Metropolitan Area Network (MANs) Programme, Phase I, the Department offered grant aid to Local Authorities of €78 million for the construction of 27 high speed, open access fibre optic networks. All twenty-seven MANs have been completed under the first phase and are currently being managed by ENet, the Managed Services Entity.

€35 million has been spent to date on broadband initiatives during 2007 on Phase II of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs). Construction is currently under way in 66 towns under this Phase and contracts have been signed by Local authorities for a further €65 million.

My Department is currently undertaking a Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the MANs programme. This review will help to inform decisions on the future allocation of the National Development Plan envelope for broadband infrastructure.

Expenditure on broadband infrastructure and services by my Department amounted to €26 million in 2004, €19 million in 2005 and €32 million in 2006.

An indicative €435 million of Exchequer funds has been provided for the Communications and Broadband Programme in the 2007-2013 National Development Plan. It is not possible at this stage to give a detailed breakdown of the approximately €400 million that remains to be allocated over the period of the Plan. Some of this allocation will be expended on the National Broadband scheme and on commitments under Phase II of the MANs.