Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the adequacy and durability of the telecommunications infrastructure with particular reference to the long term availability of cable, wire dependent and wireless services; if the standard, quality and extent of the services currently available in competing EU and non-EU economies expected to become available here or to be provided in the near future; if all service providers are adequately solvent or capable of raising the necessary capital to provide the required level of investment and meet the ongoing customer requirements in terms of the modernisation of services including high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24024/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The primary role of the Government in the development of the electronic communications market is to formulate regulatory and infrastructural policies to facilitate the provision of high quality services by competing private sector service providers. This policy approach has facilitated sustained take up of broadband across all platforms in recent years. With increased cable and mobile subscribers in particular, Ireland had over 1.2 million broadband subscribers at the end of last year. Over 62% of Irish households had a broadband connection and most of those are now using higher speed connections as increasing competition between the platforms continues to have a very positive effect. SMEs are also increasing their take up of broadband connections to the extent that the latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office in May 2009 shows that 83% of SMEs had a broadband connection.