Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to address the regional differences in broadband performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4471/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 511: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent, if any, to which he proposes or intends to encourage state of the art investment in the telecommunications sector, with particular reference to the need to dramatically improve the State's capability in this sector and the need to become leader in this sector throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4957/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 512: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects Ireland to again join the leading EU countries in the telecommunications sector in respect of both cable, wire and wireless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4958/09]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects broadband availability and speeds to become as available here as in leading competing economies throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4961/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 492, 511, 512 and 515 together.

The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg's report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010.

Details of the areas to be covered by 3 under the NBS are available at www.three.ie/nbs. 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 have examined the written submissions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum that I hosted on 30th September 2008. I intend to publish a finalised report shortly having regard to the contributions we have received.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to enhance demand side initiatives for business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4472/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market and stimulate demand to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. It is also encouraging that, at the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg's report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010.

Businesses located within the NBS area and currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send and receive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS, 3 is committed to a comprehensive demand side programme which includes amongst other things, marketing, outdoor advertising, radio and press advertising, engagement with communities and stakeholders as well as other promotional activities. Finally, my colleague the Minister for Finance, who is responsible for eGovernment, is committed to demand stimulation through the use of broadband for internal State business and for the provision of electronic services to citizens.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to address the expensive cost of broadband, the relative lower speeds and the capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4473/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg's quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Most of those SMEs, 72.6%, according to ComReg's report for Q3 2008, have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.

As regards the cost of broadband, it is not the case that broadband is expensive in Ireland. In fact, in ComReg's last quarterly report (issued for Q3 2008) Ireland ranked in 8th place in the "DSL and Cable basket" used for international comparison purposes and compared favourably with the EU24 average.