Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 348: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions at EU level on the matter of the future development of the telecommunications sector with particular reference to a high quality of service in respect of landline or mobile phone telephony; if any effort is being made to achieve a higher standard and quality of service throughout the Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17024/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The provision of telecommunications services including fixed line and mobile telephony is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. The relevant service providers operate in a fully liberalised market. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of the electronic communications sector, including regulatory issues surrounding quality of services is a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulations, which transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications.

Over the past two years officials from my Department were engaged in a thorough review of the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. The revised framework came into effect in December 2009 and is to be transposed into law by the Member States before end May 2011. Implementation of the new framework will result in increased standards and quality of services for consumers throughout the Union.

Specific measures on service quality included in the revised framework include a requirement for operators to publish comparable and up-to-date information for end-users on the minimum service quality levels offered; the types of maintenance service offered and customer support services provided and any compensation and refund arrangements that apply if contracted service quality levels are not met.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 349: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the areas throughout County Kildare that are in receipt of modern high-speed broadband services; the areas in which no such service is available; the reason for this deficiency; if he expects that a full service will become available; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17025/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The provision of broadband services is in the first instance a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over the telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. Details of broadband services available in each county can be found on ComReg's website at www.callcosts.ie.

The Government intervenes when there is clear evidence of market failure. An example of such an intervention is the National Broadband Scheme which aims to provide access to affordable and scalable broadband services to fixed residences and businesses within certain designated rural areas. 11 electoral divisions in county Kildare are included in this Scheme. Details of these areas can be found on the NBS service provider's (3 Ireland) website, www.three.ie

It continues to be a priority of the Government that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. However, despite Government and private investment in broadband, I am aware that there continues to be a small percentage of premises throughout the country that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.).

The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. In addition, we have received State Aid clearance from the Commission for the scheme. My Department is currently progressing the design and implementation of a scheme which would use this funding to address the issue of basic broadband availability to un-served rural premises outside of the NBS areas. This work will include the identification of premises not capable of receiving broadband. It is hoped to commence this scheme in late 2010 and have it completed by 2012. The application process has not yet begun. Information in relation to acceptance of applications and the process of qualification under the scheme will be made available in due course when the scheme is launched.