Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will seek a strategic partnership with Eircom under the new partnership with a company (details supplied) to roll out fibre broadband to the home. [3347/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Government policy pertaining to the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles, which are crucial to the development of the market including (i) competition, at platform and service levels, which drives innovation and investment (ii) investment certainty for service providers considering investing in network infrastructure, (iii) investment intervention by Government to bridge any digital divide in cases of market failure and to meet certain of the State's own communication needs, and (iv) appropriate regulation. The policy paper sets out the Government's position that investment in broadband infrastructure is primarily a matter for the private sector, facilitated, where appropriate and possible, by Government (e.g. by providing access to State owned infrastructure).

Existing policy has facilitated significant progress in broadband roll out and broadband speeds over recent years and my focus will be on continuing implementation of this policy. I welcome all plans by service providers across different platforms to invest in high-speed broadband and will ensure that the State provides a supportive environment for such investment.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will combat the digital divide; if he is satisfied that those who wish to learn how to use the internet have had an opportunity to learn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3419/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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My Department and others have been working, and continue to work, on addressing the digital divide with a range of measures to promote digital engagement.

One of the issues has been access to the technology and infrastructure – this is being addressed both by the market and in the case of areas where broadband provision remains an issue through the National Broadband Scheme in which my Department is investing substantially.

Skills are one of the key issues when considering the digital divide. Skills provision is being addressed in several ways. There are training opportunities available across the country provided by community, voluntary and not for profit organisations. My Department has assisted some of these initiatives though various eInclusion grant schemes.

The most recent of these schemes is the BenefIT 2 eInclusion grant scheme. The results of this scheme were announced by my colleague the Minister of State, Conor Lenihan, T.D., in December last. Under scheme 7,390 training places are being made available across the country. Details of the training, the locations and contact information for the training providers are available on my Department's website at www.eInclusion.ie

In addition, training options also exist for people in libraries and in night classes throughout the country and from a range of private sector training providers.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the cost and time frame for the completion of the national broadband scheme. [3434/10]

Eamon 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 late December 2008. Since then, 3 has progressed its network rollout and NBS broadband services are now available in almost half of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under the Scheme. Under the NBS contract, all EDs in the NBS Coverage Area are required to have broadband connectivity by end September 2010.

The total current and capital cost of the full rollout of the NBS has been estimated by "3" at some €223m, of which a maximum of €79.8m will be contributed by the Government and the EU.