Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it will be possible for a person (details supplied) in County Galway to have broadband at their disposal; if his attention has been drawn to the number of people in this area who are inconvenienced by not having broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36785/08]

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, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms such as DSL (telephone lines), cable, fixed wireless, and increasingly mobile. I understand that the Tuam area already has broadband on offer from a number of service providers.

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 included providing grant-aid under the now concluded Group Broadband Scheme (GBS), investment in Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) which has been designed to deliver broadband to areas where the market has failed to provide services. The NBS contract is scheduled to be signed next month. Subject to agreement with the chosen service provider, rollout of services is expected to begin shortly after the contract is signed. All requests for a broadband service in the areas to be addressed by the NBS, including any unserved areas in Co Galway, will be met.