Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to provide high speed broadband services in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9946/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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While the provision of broadband services, particularly in urban areas, is a matter for private sector service providers, my overall policy framework is aimed at encouraging wider availability and higher speed services.

Broadband policy is set out in the paper that I launched in June 2009. This paper set out the basic policy framework that investment in broadband, including Next Generation Networks (NGN) which provide higher speeds, is primarily a matter for the market facilitated by an appropriate regulatory regime. Direct State investment is aimed at market failure situations, for example, the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which is aimed at bringing a basic broadband product to unserved areas.

The availability, take up and quality of broadband in Ireland have all increased substantially over recent years. Large corporates throughout Ireland are fully served. SME and residential broadband has also improved significantly over recent years. Any remaining areas of Ireland that do not currently have a broadband service (i.e. now estimated at under 4% of the premises in Ireland) will have one through the NBS by the end of this year.

At the end of September 2009, just over 70% of Irish homes, and over 86% of SMEs, had subscribed for a broadband connection. As regards broadband speeds, most of the homes (68.4%) and the SMEs (72.8%) are using higher speed broadband (2mbps – 10mbps).