Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he will take to combat the digital divide; if he is satisfied that persons who wish to learn how to use the Internet across broad sections of society have an opportunity to learn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18709/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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While the provision of broadband is a matter for the service providers, there are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. In this regard, my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage including the Group Broadband Scheme, the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme and the recently announced National Broadband Scheme (NBS). These initiatives have been designed to bridge the digital divide, create greater equality in terms of social and economic inclusion and remove the disadvantage caused by a lack of broadband services.

The NBS will ensure broadband services are available in un-served rural areas by September 2010. In addition the initiatives facilitate competition in the broadband market in the regions leading to greater choice, quality and value for money to the consumer.

I am acutely aware of the importance of measures to facilitate people in learning how to use information age technologies or to acquire or improve digital skills. That is why my Department has put in place the BenefIT eInclusion Grant Scheme. Through this scheme we are partnering with community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to making available eInclusion opportunities – with a major focus on digital skills and training. We have allocated over €2.2m to 87 projects under this scheme. These projects are currently ongoing and are operating throughout the country – some of them still have training places available. Details of the specific projects including where they are operating and what they cover are available on my Department's website http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Knowledge+Society/

I am satisfied that my Department has, through the various initiatives, facilitated the widest possible roll-out of broadband connectivity, which has in turn underpinned widespread eInclusion.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his position in relation to the EU telecoms package; the role he has taken at EU level on this issue; the potential impact on the telecoms industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18706/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The EU Commission's proposals for reform of the electronic communications framework have been the subject of intense negotiation at EU Council and Parliament over the past sixteen months. As Minister for Communications, I and my officials have fully participated in these negotiations. I have strongly supported the package of proposals agreed by Council, especially the measures aimed at encouraging competition and investment in next generation networks.

The proposals aim to strengthen the regulatory framework and improve the consistency of its implementation throughout the EU. They provide for greater cooperation on regulatory decisions between the Commission and national regulators through the establishment of a new body, the Board of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). Functional separation, as an exceptional remedy to be imposed by national regulators, if all other available remedies have failed to overcome competition problems, is also provided for in the revised package.

The sector generally will benefit from measures to encourage competition and investment in next generation access networks by reaffirming the importance of competition in this area while ensuring that telecom operators receive a fair return on their investments. Also, the rules governing the sharing of network elements, such as ducts and in-building wiring, between operators are updated. Besides improving competition and services for businesses and consumers, this will also help to lower costs for operators and improve the investment climate for high speed broadband services.

The revised package also contains measures providing greater flexibility in the management and use of the radio spectrum. These will allow operators to introduce innovative services and technologies in spectrum bands that are currently assigned for specific uses, while at the same time protecting rights of use for emergency and security services and for meeting general interest objectives such as public sector broadcasting.

Overall, I believe that the revised regulatory framework, when implemented, will have a beneficial impact on the Irish telecommunications sector and on consumers. It will lead to better and more effective regulation of the market and will provide greater regulatory certainty to operators.