Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the policy initiatives he proposes to take to meet the infrastructural deficiency in the telecommunications sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19006/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country.

The Government is addressing the infrastructure deficit in the regions by building high-speed, open access, carrier neutral Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in 93 towns and cities nationwide, on a phased basis in association with the local and regional authorities. Phase I of this Programme has so far delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout the country. Under Phase II of the MANs Programme 59 of 60 MANs which provides open access networks to 65 towns across the country are now complete. It is expected that the final network of the Phase II Programme will be completed in early 2010. These networks allow the private sector to offer world-class broadband services at competitive costs. Complementary to the MAN networks, the recently concluded Group Broadband Scheme (GBS) has funded over 120 projects specifically aimed at providing broadband to smaller communities.

However, despite Government and private investment in the provision of broadband infrastructure there are still some parts of the country where the private sector is unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband connectivity. 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. Rollout of the services in certain areas commenced in April 2009. The entire NBS area will be served by September 2010.

My Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie gives full details of broadband availability in all areas, including ADSL, cable, fibre, satellite and fixed wireless. The website also lists prices of the various service levels on offer and contact details for each service provider. In addition details of the areas to be covered by "3" under the NBS are available at www.three.ie/nbs.

Additionally, a draft paper on Next Generation Broadband, which was launched for public consultation last year, considered the optimum role for Government in facilitating the roll out of high speed broadband networks and set 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 final report will be published shortly and will set the strategic policy framework for investment in high speed broadband.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which he has reviewed the infrastructural needs of mobile telephone and landline services with particular reference to the need to ensure the quality and range of service is brought up to a standard comparable to the best in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19007/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The provision of telecommunications services including fixed line and mobile telephony are, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. The relevant 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 infrastructure and services, by competing private sector service providers.

The widespread provision of telecommunications services continues to be a major priority for the Government.

Statutory responsibility for the regulation of the electronic communications sector, including regulatory issues surrounding quality of services is the responsibility of ComReg in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulations, which transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications.