Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when it is expected that broadband access and quality here will become comparable with that available in other best practice European countries; if his attention has been drawn to the necessity to bring such service up to the highly competitive standards available elsewhere; when this will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37242/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is 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. 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 and ongoing 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 nearing completion. The NBS is 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, roll out of services is expected to begin shortly after the contract is signed. The chosen service provider will be required to complete the roll out of services within 22 months of the contract award. All requests for a broadband service in the areas to be addressed by the NBS will be met.

As regards broadband quality and speeds, ComReg's latest Quarterly Report highlights that, as of March 2008, 57% of Irish households had a broadband connection. 52% of those households are subscribed to higher speed packages of between 2 mbps and 10 mbps. Moreover, the consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband which was launched for public consultation earlier this year considered the optimum role for Government in facilitating the roll out of high speed broadband networks and sets out the Government's commitments in that regard. A central commitment is that there will be universal access to broadband by 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in comparator EU regions. The consultation period on the paper has now concluded and my officials are evaluating the submissions received. I will publish the final policy paper shortly.