Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 590: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of broadband suppliers listed on a website (details supplied) that no longer exist; the number of times amendments to the supplier list are made to the website; his views on considering permitting a company to update his Department's website; his further views on the fact that this is an efficient and up to date service for consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4463/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The broadband.gov.ie website was originally set up to offer customers the opportunity to check the broadband service providers operating in their area for comparison and service delivery purposes. The information was exclusively provided, on a voluntary basis, by licensed service providers who advertised their coverage areas and suite of products on the website. The website was updated as and when service providers advised my Department of changes.

My Department has become concerned that the value of the website is now questionable as up-to-date information is not being provided by all service providers. For this reason, it has been decided to remove the website for the present but I consider that there is still a need for such information to be publicly available so as to facilitate consumer choice.

My Department is accordingly considering other options in this regard and is, in particular, engaging with the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to see if its website, "Callcosts.ie" could accommodate information for the public on the availability of broadband throughout the country.