Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has established an implementation task force chaired by his Department regarding the setting up of a one stop shop to improve the provision of broadband infrastructure here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3397/10]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the development of a one stop shop to improve the provision of broadband infrastructure here; and the reason for the delay in setting up this new structure to date. [3377/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the commitment to establish a one stop shop to provide service providers with open access to existing ducting infrastructure; the further position regarding the implementation of proposals from the Next Generation Broadband Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3437/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 133 and 142 together.

The establishment of a "one-stop-shop" is one of the commitments in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June last year.

The concept of a "one-stop-shop" arose from a recognition that there is added value to be had from facilitating telecoms operators in gaining access to ducting in State owned networks, thereby ensuring optimal use of State assets and facilitating more cost-effective roll out of broadband. The context to the proposal is the anticipated increase in demand for high speed broadband into the future.

My Department has had consultations with the telecoms operators and has also engaged with the relevant State Bodies who are generally supportive of the proposal. My Department has also undertaken an initial survey of State-owned networks and has published a series of maps showing the routes of infrastructure such as roads, electricity, gas and rail.

A further development in progressing the thinking behind the concept has been the publication of the Premium Rate Services Bill, which contains an amendment to the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002 whereby the National Roads Authority will provide a formal framework to make ducts on national roads and motorways accessible to telecommunications companies. This Bill, which has cleared all stages in the Dáil, is currently before the Seanad and I anticipate that it will be quickly enacted.

The first key requirement is that operators have up-to-date information about the availability and quality of State-owned ducting and access arrangements. Some information is available on this as a result of the initial survey of infrastructure undertaken by my Department and further elaboration is needed in order to meet the specific needs of operators. The immediate objective is to have information on the availability of and access arrangements for all State-owned ducting via a single contact point later this year.

At the same time we will evaluate and progress the best management system that will provide co-ordinated access to such State-owned ducting.

Such a management system should facilitate our wider objective of promoting co-operation between different telecoms providers of backhaul and wholesale services while at the same time not undermining competition in the market.