Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when landline broadband Internet access will be available in Castlemaine village, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38320/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of telecommunications services including broadband 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. I have no role in private sector broadband infrastructure investment undertaken by broadband service providers. However, it is hoped that the facilitation of greater competition in the sector via the introduction of broadband from different technology platforms, will encourage more rapid enabling of all exchanges for broadband.

I would add that in addition to fixed landline broadband, otherwise known as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or broadband over telephone lines, broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms including cable, fixed wireless and increasingly mobile. I understand that Castlemaine already has broadband on offer from a number of service providers.