Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 37: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he proposes to take or has taken particular or specific initiatives with a view to encouraging service providers here to bring the standard, quality and spread of service in respect of broadband, mobile telephony and all forms of modern telecommunications up to best international practice thereby providing consumers here with a quality of service available worldwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21416/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Broadband services are provided in the Irish market by the private sector, with appropriate regulation from the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

The role of Government is to ensure that the appropriate regulatory regime is in place and to also invest directly in the case of market failure such as the proposed National Broadband Scheme.

The latest figures from the OECD show that Ireland experienced one of the fastest rates of growth in broadband take-up in the OECD and had a penetration rate per capita of over20%. ComReg has found that 44% of Irish households had a broadband connection at the end of September 2007. I expect that ComReg data for quarter 1 of 2008 will confirm that we are now well over the 50% household penetration mark.

There is also evidence on the supply side of greater bandwidth being made available at lower prices such as the recent offerings by two companies of 12Mbps and 15Mbps at €40 and €45 per month respectively.

Internationally, telecommunications is moving to next generation broadband to deliver greater quality, speed and service to the consumer. This is happening where there is strong competition and incentives to innovate. I will shortly publish for consultation a policy paper that will set a framework for investment by the private sector in next generation broadband and for the role of Government. I will welcome all views on the paper.