Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that, as he said in a speech to the Dáil, if an area is not covered by 1 July 2008, it will get broadband under the national broadband scheme; his views that this will not be the case because of State aid problems; his further views on whether the scheme will fall far short of achieving 100% coverage; the other plans he has to achieve 100% coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10694/08]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the data on broadband coverage is adequate; his further views on a recent programme (details supplied) that found many areas that appear to have broadband in the Government's coverage map do not have sufficient coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10566/08]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the tendering process for the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10576/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 109 and 129 together.

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). The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. There are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. In order to address this issue the procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is currently 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.

A complex mapping exercise was undertaken in order to identify all areas where broadband services are and are not available. My Department and ComReg contacted service providers and requested details of their current and planned broadband coverage. The decision with respect to areas that are not currently served but are expected to be served in the near future will be made in July 2008. Any area not served by 1 July 2008, will fall under the scope of the NBS. Entering in to an area already covered by the private sector would result in Ireland being in breach of the EU Commission's State Aid decision. The procurement process is being undertaken pursuant to the European Communities, (Award of Public Authorities' Contracts), Regulations 2006, using a competitive dialogue procurement process.

The first phase of the NBS procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next phase of the procurement process. Following the withdrawal of the IFA/Motorola Consortium as a candidate, the remaining three candidates have now commenced "Competitive Dialogue" with my Department and are developing their proposed solutions to meet my 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, with roll out to commence as soon as possible thereafter.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeframe for developing and delivering a new tougher regulatory system with regard to mobile texting costs; his views on incorporating RegTel into ComReg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10574/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I intend for RegTel to be under the aegis of ComReg and details of this will be outlined in the Broadcasting Bill which I will present to the House in the coming months.