Written answers

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Telecommunications Services

12:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made on the national broadband scheme; the percentage of the area that remains to be covered by this scheme; the time scale for nation-wide broadband availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35581/09]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in December 2008. The company is required to provide services, using a mix of technologies, to all fixed residences and businesses that are located within the NBS Coverage Area and who seek a service. The NBS is being rolled out on an electoral division (ED) basis with a total of 1,028 EDs to receive broadband services under the NBS. 3 is progressing its network rollout and to date, NBS services have been made available in 32% of the EDs (329).

Under the NBS contract, 48% of the EDs in the NBS Coverage Area are required to be enabled by the end of December 2009, while all EDs in the NBS Coverage Area must be covered by the end of September 2010. My Department is intensively monitoring delivery of the NBS to ensure that all contractual commitments are fully met.

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding putting in place a one-stop-shop to improve the provision of broadband infrastructure here; and the reason for the delay in setting up this new structure. [35546/09]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the call from an association (details supplied) for a one-stop-shop in respect of the communications market here; the position regarding his commitment to establish a one-stop-shop to provide service providers with open access to existing ducting infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35527/09]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 32 together.

The establishment of a one-stop-shop is one of the key commitments contained in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June this year. The objective of a one-stop-shop is to enable access on a satisfactory and an open basis to broadband ducting assets in State ownership. It is my intention to see this initiative is operational as soon as possible thereby improving the State's overall broadband infrastructure. My officials have consulted with the relevant State agencies in the energy and transport sectors to establish what infrastructure is available that could be included in a one-stop-shop. Implementation of a one-stop-shop involves consideration of complex commercial, technical and legal issues to ensure that the public good is protected in tandem with achievement of the overall objective.

I will shortly establish an Implementation Task Force chaired by my Department and comprising senior officials from the relevant State agencies who own ducting infrastructure to oversee the project. Separately, I also intend to ask Government to oblige all State companies which own ducting infrastructure to provide service providers with open access in the future. Meanwhile I propose to amend Part 5 of the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002 relating to carrying out communications work on public roads. These proposed amendments will, provide a framework for the National Roads Authority to make ducts on national roads and motorways accessible to telecommunication companies. It is intended that these amendments will be introduced in the Committee Stage of the Premium Rate Services Bill 2009 which is scheduled for next month.

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